Requête on assisted dying 'could be made in 2025'

Gavin St Pier said he was "very supportive" of assisted dying

A request to make assisted dying legal in Guernsey could be made in early 2025, according to former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier.

It comes after UK MPs voted in favour of an assisted dying bill for England and Wales put forward by MP Kim Leadbeater on Friday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Guernsey, he said: "I have made it very clear throughout this term that is was always my intention to give this States the opportunity to consider the issue by requête."

Campaign group Dignity In Dying said it was "very supportive of the proposal".

Basis for requête

Speaking before the bill in England and Wales was passed, St Pier added: "My intention was always to make others go first, the Isle of Man is now in the final stages of passing legislation, Jersey has approved the framework in great detail... So I think that may well be the basis to bring requête in the early part of next year."

St Pier's comments came after the launch of a political movement called Future Guernsey.

As a political advisor to the group, St Pier said: "Future Guernsey will not have a position on assisted dying - it does not lie within one of the six priority areas."

The launch was made in front of about 200 people and the team behind it laid out their six main policy areas: housing, health, the climate, education, fiscal sustainability and the economy.

It launch has followed research the group has done with Guernsey people to find out their priorities.