Disability rights campaigners have formally requested that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham intervene to delay the introduction of new assisted dying legislation. The activists contend that the current state of social care in the UK is insufficient, creating an environment where disabled and chronically ill people may feel pressured into ending their lives due to a lack of adequate support services.

The core of the activists' argument is that the right to die cannot be safely implemented while the right to live is undermined by systemic failures in the care sector. They argue that without significant reform to social care, the proposed bill poses a direct threat to the safety of vulnerable populations. While the debate over assisted dying often centers on individual autonomy and the relief of suffering, these campaigners emphasize that the legislative focus should first be on ensuring that people have the resources necessary to live with dignity.

Andy Burnham, who has previously expressed nuanced views on the subject, has not yet committed to a specific course of action regarding the delay. The campaigners are urging him to use his platform to advocate for a pause in the legislative process until a more robust safety net for disabled people is established. The situation highlights a growing tension between proponents of assisted dying, who view it as a matter of personal choice, and disability rights groups who fear that economic and social pressures could turn a 'right to die' into a 'duty to die' for those who cannot access necessary care.