Assisted Dying Bill to Run Out of Time as Lords Hold Final Debate

The proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales is set to expire on Friday, nearly 17 months after MPs initially approved it. While the House of Commons backed the measure, allowing terminally ill adults with six months to live to receive medical aid to end their lives, the House of Lords has delayed its progression. The bill will not complete all necessary stages in the current parliamentary session, with no additional debate time left beyond Friday.

Supporters of the legislation argue that the next session of Parliament, starting on 13 May, could see renewed efforts to push the bill forward. Over 1,200 amendments have been proposed in the Lords, a record for a bill introduced by a backbencher, reflecting significant debate. Although the bill was supported by MPs in November 2024 by a majority of 55 and cleared the Commons in June last year with a majority of 23, it has not yet passed through all stages in the Lords.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who championed the bill in the Commons, expressed frustration that it would fall in the Lords. She stated her feelings were “a mixture of feeling extremely disappointed and upset and also quite angry,” but remained hopeful for a future attempt. If the bill is reintroduced, she said, MPs could bring it back for discussion and seek consensus with peers on amendments. Leadbeater also noted that the Parliament Acts might be invoked to override the Lords if the Commons passes it again, bypassing peer approval.

“We don’t want to get to that stage, we want this to go through the normal legislative process,” Leadbeater added.

Opponents in the Lords, including Baroness Grey-Thompson, contend that the bill’s flaws outweigh its merits. She claimed the failure stems from its “poorly written” nature, noting it was crafted hastily and lacks sufficient safeguards. “It was written in haste and there are so many gaps in it that a number of peers are really uncomfortable with this particular bill, even though they may be in favour of the principle,” she said.

“But if we’re going to do this, we have to have safeguards and I really don’t think there are anywhere near enough safeguards in it,” Grey-Thompson emphasized.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the bill’s sponsor in the Lords, has proposed a change to allow a broader discussion on Friday instead of proceeding through the amendment process. Critics argue the bill’s supporters have “stonewalled or rejected nearly every attempt to amend or improve” it, while backers insist the current session’s deadline is unavoidable.

With the Lords’ committee stage concluding on Friday, the bill will effectively be shelved unless a new effort is made in the upcoming session. The Parliament Acts, last used in 2004 to enact a fox hunting ban, could once again be the deciding factor if the Commons secures a second vote.