“Let Her Go in Peace!” Esther Rantzen’s Daughter Slams ‘Cruel’ UK Law in Tearful Plea. She’s turning 85 this weekend – and still fighting for the right to die with dignity. Esther Rantzen’s daughter says enough is enough
Rebecca Wilcox, the daughter of terminally ill broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, has issued a heartfelt appeal urging MPs to support the Assisted Dying Bill – and to ignore what she calls “dangerous scaremongering.”
As the landmark vote approaches this Friday, Wilcox insisted that England and Wales are falling behind the rest of the world in offering choice and dignity at the end of life. Speaking on Sky News, she declared: “We need to show that we are an empathetic country that appreciates choice at the end of your life.”
The Bill, which would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, has been refined with new safeguards. Supporters say it offers clear protections, while critics fear it could be abused or expanded. Wilcox pushed back, saying, “It’s not a slippery slope – that’s a lie.”
Her plea comes just days before Dame Esther turns 85 – a milestone her family cherishes amid her battle with terminal cancer. Wilcox praised MP Kim Leadbeater for bringing forward a “safe, clever” piece of legislation, while condemning misinformation spread by opponents who warn it could affect people with mental health conditions.
“Yes, you may be depressed because you’re dying, but that’s not what this Bill is about,” Wilcox said, calling for truth and compassion in the debate. She urged the public to contact MPs and back the change: “The numbers are with us. The nation wants this.”
While critics like Labour’s Rupa Huq raised concerns over coercion during a cost-of-living crisis, Wilcox insists the law includes rigorous checks – from doctors to legal and mental health experts – to ensure only eligible terminally ill adults are considered.
For Wilcox, it’s not about politics – it’s about her mother. “She’s coping,” she said of Esther, “and we’re so thankful for the time we have with her.”