Sir Patrick Stewart has spoken in Westminster to defend the right to die.

The Hollywood star made a ‘powerful and moving’ speech in front of MPs and other speakers at a House of Commons debate hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Choice at the End of Life over an ongoing private members bill that wants to see the right to assisted dying legalised.

Speaking as a patron for campaign group Dignity in Dying, he told of the tragic death of his friend and former Mirfield mayor David Pinder’s partner, who killed herself while battling terminal cancer.

According to Twitter comments by Dignity in Dying, whose representatives were also at the debate chaired by Rotherham Labour MP Sarah Champion, Sir Patrick said he wanted ‘to have stories like this in their mind when they debate’.

The Mirfield-born star spoke of the bill through the ‘prism of human rights’, and said that although “we have no choice in how we come into this world we should have choice on how we leave it”.

The campaign group added that he spoke of how ‘a lack of an assisted dying law forces people into torturous situations and to take desperate measures’ and intervened later in the discussion to explain that choice helps people in Oregon, who have the option but many choose not to use it.

A tweet from Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney, who went to listen in on the event, also included a quote by Sir Patrick, who said that “everybody has the human right to a good death”.

MORE: Hollywood star Patrick Stewart deeply moved by death of Mirfield woman Gillian Pinder

It is the latest intervention in the debate by Sir Patrick, who first declared his wish to be allowed an assisted death in 2011. He spoke in the debate with Wolverhampton South West labour MP Rob Marris, who is seeking to push the bill through parliament after topping the ballot for private members’ bills, Lord Carey and Sir Graeme Catto.

It is currently awaiting its second reading in parliament and it will be debated in the House of Commons.

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