TV presenter Angela Rippon says her close friend Dame Esther Rantzen is “relieved” that her assisted dying bill received backing from Parliament.
The proposal to allow a terminally ill person with less than six months to live assistance to end their life passed by 330 votes to 275. Dame Esther, 84, is terminally ill with lung cancer and revealed she had joined Dignitas, the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland, last year.
Angela, 80, has been friends with Esther for more than 30 years, and the pair still regularly speak on the phone. “She is an amazing person,” praises Angela. “All her life she’s used her platform to create change. Silver Line, Childline, and all of those things that she’s done. Now because this is very personal to her, she’s used that influence that she has and that power that she has. She’s done it again.
“I think she is thrilled over what happened. I think she’s delighted and I think she’s relieved.” Dame Esther has terminal cancer and has spoken about wanting to decide to end her life when her quality of life deteriorates. Her passionate campaigning on the subject led to the bill being brought.
Speaking at the Television and Radio Club Christmas lunch, Angela continues: “Esther has made a big impact, of course she did, but she has all her life. All her life she’s been an inspiration to people for all sorts of things.
“And I think that this is very personal for her. The great thing with Esther is that when she takes on a campaign, she discovers that there are thousands of people who join in with her and support her.
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“And I think that everything she’s done, whether it was Childline or Silverline or now supporting Leadbeater on this, it’s another of those instances where she’s actually been a really important figure in a campaign and I think that’s absolutely brilliant.”
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is highly controversial, with huge debates raging on both sides, but Angela says: “It isn’t controversial for Esther. It’s her personal choice and she feels very strongly about it and I think she’s made that clear. So for her it isn’t a controversy, it’s a very personal thing.” Esther said she was “absolutely thrilled” with the result of the vote last week.
The former presenter, who has terminal cancer, said changing the law is unlikely to impact on her as it could take up to two years to implement. She accepts she will have to go to Swiss clinic Dignitas for a pain-free ending but added: “I will do so in the knowledge that future generations will be spared the ordeals we have to suffer.
“I listened to the debate and it was very deeply felt. Members of Parliament, whether they opposed it or proposed it, had obviously given it a great deal of thought.”
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