The White House has accused Britain of “state-sponsored suicide” over the passage of the Assisted Dying Bill.

The US state department criticised parliament for passing the bill, which will make it legal for terminally ill people to end their lives.

“As the UK Parliament considers support for state-subsidised suicide, euphemistically called a bill for ‘terminally ill adults’ the United States reaffirms the sanctity of life,” the US bureau of democracy, human rights and labour said.

“The western world should stand for life, vitality and hope over surrender and death.”

The Trump administration is proving increasingly willing to intervene in domestic British affairs, having previously admonished Sir Keir Starmer’s government over threats to free speech.

Last week the House of Commons voted narrowly to support Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill, and it will now be scrutinised in the House of Lords.

The private member’s bill was supported by 314 to 291 in the Commons, a majority of 23, paving the way for assisted dying services to be introduced by the end of the decade.

Critics of the legislation have warned its safeguards are not strong enough and vulnerable people could be coerced or feel pressured into ending their lives early.