Jersey should 'work with UK on assisted dying law'

A senior politician from the Isle of Man has said leaders in Jersey should work closely with the UK government to ensure assisted dying laws can come into force.

Dr Alex Allinson authored the bill to give the fellow crown dependency's terminally ill residents the right to choose to end their own lives, and it was approved by its parliament in March 2025.

Now however, the UK government has said it will not approve the Isle of Man bill unless changes are made address safeguarding concerns.

Allinson said Jersey's bill, which was passed earlier this year, had a better chance of passing if leaders "liaised quite closely" with the UK's Ministry of Justice.

When the legislation was approved in February, 32 politicians voted in favour of the law with 16 voting against it.

The bill then needs to receive Royal Assent, or formal approval, in the UK before it takes effect.

Once approved, the first legal assisted deaths could happen as early as summer 2027.

"You've approached the legislation in a different way," Allinson told BBC Radio Jersey.

"Your population is far more on board with the changes you intend to bring through and you've had the whole weight of government behind the legislation.

"So, it's a lot more developed than on the Isle of Man where it was a private members' bill, and it was up to me to bring this forward."

As has happened with the Isle of Man, Jersey's bill could face push back if similar concerns are raised.

"I think you're in a much better position," Allinson said.

"My advice would be that your politicians liaise quite closely with the Ministry of Justice on a regular basis.

"That way you can make sure the legislation your elected members pass actually gets operational, and provides the dignity for people who are dying in Jersey, in the right way."

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