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| Assisted suicide 'supported' by religious Britons | Assisted suicide 'supported' by religious Britons |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The majority of British people who follow a religious faith support the law being changed to allow assisted suicide, research suggests. | The majority of British people who follow a religious faith support the law being changed to allow assisted suicide, research suggests. |
| Overall 70% of those questioned said they backed a change in the law, with 16% opposing it. | Overall 70% of those questioned said they backed a change in the law, with 16% opposing it. |
| YouGov conducted an online poll of 4,437 British adults for the organisers of the Westminster Faith Debates. | YouGov conducted an online poll of 4,437 British adults for the organisers of the Westminster Faith Debates. |
| A public debate on assisted suicide is being held by that group in London. | |
| Any new government legislation would potentially make it possible for someone to help a terminally-ill person die without the possibility of prosecution for doing so. | Any new government legislation would potentially make it possible for someone to help a terminally-ill person die without the possibility of prosecution for doing so. |
| The poll also says only Baptists, Muslims and Hindus do not have a majority in favour of a change. | The poll also says only Baptists, Muslims and Hindus do not have a majority in favour of a change. |
| Of those supporting a change in the law, 82% agreed that an "individual has the right to choose when and how to die". | Of those supporting a change in the law, 82% agreed that an "individual has the right to choose when and how to die". |
| Almost 60% of those opposed to a change in the law agreed that "vulnerable people could be, or feel, pressured to die". | Almost 60% of those opposed to a change in the law agreed that "vulnerable people could be, or feel, pressured to die". |
| Changing attitudes | Changing attitudes |
| Roman Catholics leaders have been particularly vocal against assisted suicide, yet among those who follow that religion 56% supported a change in the law. | Roman Catholics leaders have been particularly vocal against assisted suicide, yet among those who follow that religion 56% supported a change in the law. |
| But the poll also suggested that support for a law change fell among religious people who actively participate in church or religious group. | But the poll also suggested that support for a law change fell among religious people who actively participate in church or religious group. |
| Only the Anglican, Jewish and Sikh faiths had a majority in favour of a change in the law in this category. | Only the Anglican, Jewish and Sikh faiths had a majority in favour of a change in the law in this category. |
| And support fell to 44% of Roman Catholics who actively participate in a church or religious group. | And support fell to 44% of Roman Catholics who actively participate in a church or religious group. |
| Professor Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University and co-host of the Westminster Faith Debates, said modern medicine advances had seen a change in people's attitudes about death. | Professor Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University and co-host of the Westminster Faith Debates, said modern medicine advances had seen a change in people's attitudes about death. |
| "We are used to having more control over our lives and I think that is partly why there is this overwhelming number of people saying that they have a right to decide for themselves," she said. | "We are used to having more control over our lives and I think that is partly why there is this overwhelming number of people saying that they have a right to decide for themselves," she said. |