Supporters of assisted dying are considering invoking the Parliament Act 1911 to bypass the House of Lords if the upper chamber continues to block the legislation. The act, originally passed after a dispute over David Lloyd George's budget, was last used in 2004 to enact a ban on foxhunting.
The Parliament Act allows the House of Commons to override the Lords' veto on certain bills, provided specific conditions are met. For a bill to be passed under the act, it must be introduced in the Commons in two successive parliamentary sessions, with at least one year between the second reading and the final passage.
However, the assisted dying bill faces significant hurdles. The Parliament Act cannot be applied to bills that start in the Lords, and it excludes certain types of legislation, such as those extending the length of a parliament. Additionally, the government must support the use of the act, which is not guaranteed.
Legal experts note that the Parliament Act has only been used seven times since its enactment, reflecting its status as a measure of last resort. The last successful use was the Hunting Act 2004, which banned foxhunting after the Lords repeatedly rejected the bill.
If the assisted dying bill is blocked again in the Lords, supporters would need to reintroduce it in the next parliamentary session and wait at least a year before invoking the Parliament Act. This process could delay the bill's passage significantly, potentially beyond the current parliament's term.
