Euthanasia, or assist the dying, looks all set to become the next battleground in British politics.

Many argue that the terminally ill should be allowed to arrange help to die with dignity.

To others, it's simple. Life is sacred and ending it is murder. With legislation now coming through Parliament, it's a debate that will last over the summer to say the least. And it has started here at The Spectator with two of our editors, Douglas Murray and Sam Leith, fundamentally disagreeing. In this conversation, recorded in the editor's office, they try to understand why.

Sam Leith is a Spectator's literary editor and Douglas Murray is its contributing editor.

And if you enjoy the podcast to come, please do try the magazine at spectator.co.uk

forward slash voucher, where you can get shoes for 12 pounds as well as a free 20

pound Amazon voucher. Here's Sam. Well I find myself possibly as in accordance with my position

as the spectators token hand-wringing liberal in favour of assisted dying. But I want to be clear

really on the narrowness of that position,

which is to say, you know, if we're talking about this in the context

of what's actually being discussed about going into law,

the assisted dying bill is not a bill that allows us to euthanise the incapable.

It's not the same as taking the decision to take the life of somebody

else. And likewise, assisted suicide, I able-bodied people who want to kill themselves

or people who are not suffering from a terminal illness who want to kill themselves are kind of

a separate argument. I mean, the scope of the assisted dying bill essentially says that you have to

have to have, according to at least two doctors and I court judge, you have to be of sound mind,

have less than six months to live. And at that point, it's something that becomes an option to you.

And I think that's a very humane and reasonable position to take. And the reason I, liberal though I am, the fundamental reason

why I'm in favour of this bill is a pretty kind of solid, I suppose, almost a conservative

position, which is to do with property rights. Most of the foundation of our common law and the liberties we enjoy are to do with the idea that

your body and the labour that your body produces is your own.

...