Shabana Mahmood should not impose her religious beliefs on others, says peer

Lord Falconer’s intervention turns the heat up on what has become an increasingly acrimonious debate between senior Labour figures. Photograph: Suki Dhanda/The Observer

Cabinet ministers should not impose their religious beliefs on others in their objections to assisted dying, a leading proponent of changing the law has said.

In response to an intervention from Shabana Mahmood, Charlie Falconer, a Labour peer and ally of Keir Starmer, said the justice secretary had “religious and spiritual reasons” for being opposed to assisted dying.