Assisted Dying Bill Faces Delay in Current Parliamentary Session
Both proponents and opponents of the Assisted Dying Bill now acknowledge that the legislation will not become law during the current session of Parliament.
The House of Lords continues to debate the proposals, but it is evident that there is insufficient time to complete all legislative stages before May, when a new parliamentary session begins.
Opponents Cite Amendments as Cause for Delay
Supporters of the bill have attributed the slow progress to opponents in the House of Lords, who have tabled over 1,200 amendments. This figure is believed to be a record high for a backbenchers' bill.
Critics argue that the bill lacks adequate safeguards and that the debates in the Lords have revealed additional issues.
Background and Legislative Process
The legislation, introduced by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, is not a government bill. While MPs voted in favour of the bill last June, it has encountered difficulties advancing in the House of Lords, where debate schedules are less rigid and each amendment can be discussed in detail.
The bill proposes to allow terminally ill individuals, expected to die within six months, to seek medical assistance to end their lives. For the bill to become law, it requires approval from both Houses of Parliament.
Supporters Acknowledge Impossibility of Passage This Session
Earlier this month, supporters conceded that it was "effectively impossible" for the bill to pass before the session's end.
Opponents Express Concerns in Joint Letter
In a joint letter to members of Parliament, opponents including paralympian Baroness Grey-Thompson stated:
"It is now clear that the Terminally ill (End of Life) Bill will fall".
They further expressed that the proposal "does not sufficiently guard against coercion or protect the most vulnerable people in our society".
The peers also contended that a backbencher's bill is the "wrong vehicle for a change of this scale and sensitivity" and voiced apprehension that supporters might attempt to "force" the bill through Parliament.
Potential Use of Parliament Act and Government Position
Labour peer Lord Falconer, who has led support for the bill in the Lords, previously suggested that the government could invoke the Parliament Act—a rarely used power—to advance the bill in the next session.
Earlier this month, over 100 Labour MPs wrote to the prime minister warning that failure to pass the legislation would erode trust in politics. They urged Sir Keir Starmer to allocate more time for debate on the bill. However, the government has stated it is "neutral on the matter of assisted dying and the passage of the bill."
A government source indicated that using the Parliament Act would be highly controversial and proposed establishing a Royal Commission or an independent public inquiry to examine the proposals contained in Leadbeater's bill.
Future Prospects for Assisted Dying Legislation
A proposal to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales could re-emerge in the next parliamentary session if a backbench MP chooses to introduce new legislation.
Backbench MPs may enter a ballot to secure the opportunity to present a proposed law. The first 20 MPs drawn receive priority time for their bills.
While the government could introduce its own bill, it has not indicated any intention to do so to date.
