More than 100 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have sent a letter to Keir Starmer, urging him to support the legalization of assisted dying, as critics are working to prevent the legislation from progressing. Last June, MPs approved a historic bill allowing terminally ill individuals to end their lives, but the process has been delayed in the House of Lords due to over 1,200 amendments. The slow debate progress indicates that time may run out as the Parliamentary session concludes in May.
Despite only three days remaining for the bill to complete all stages, there are still over 600 amendments awaiting discussion before reaching the final stages in Parliament. Lord Falconer, the bill’s sponsor in the House of Lords, expressed doubts about its passage in this session unless opponents change their tactics significantly.
In a letter organized by Labour MP Peter Prinsley, MPs emphasized that a small group of peers have been using procedural tactics to obstruct the bill in the House of Lords, potentially preventing it from returning to the Commons before the session ends. They stressed the importance of the elected House of Commons making decisions on such matters, highlighting strong public support nationwide for a change in the law.
The MPs requested that Parliament find time in the next session to allow for a decision on the bill, ensuring it remains a conscience issue for MPs while maintaining the government’s neutrality. In January, Lord Falconer proposed invoking the Parliament Act of 1911 to ensure timely conclusion of debates if necessary, which grants supremacy to the elected Commons over the appointed Lords in certain situations.
Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell expressed hope that the Lords would scrutinize the bill responsibly to avoid invoking the Parliament Act. He reiterated the government’s commitment to debating necessary amendments once the Lords complete their scrutiny, aiming to resolve the matter without resorting to extreme measures.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, if passed, would permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel comprising a social worker, senior legal figure, and psychiatrist.
