Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the assisted dying bill for England and Wales, has said the House of Lords “signed its own death warrant” by stalling the legislation. She spoke at a protest outside parliament, the largest ever on the issue, marking the second anniversary of the death of campaigner Paola Marra at Dignitas.
Leadbeater said many MPs were “angry and upset” after peers added about 1,200 amendments, likely causing the bill to run out of time. The bill has only three sessions left in the Lords, with just half the amendments debated. “The House of Lords are behaving as though none of that ever happened,” she said, referring to the Commons vote in favour.
The protest, organised by Dignity in Dying, came as figures showed 43 UK residents had an assisted death at Dignitas in 2025, the second-highest number in two decades. Among the protesters were relatives of those who died abroad, including Catie Fenner, whose mother Alison ended her life in Switzerland in 2023. “1,200 amendments is not scrutiny, that’s sabotage,” Fenner said.
Linda Deverall’s partner, Ole Hansen, travelled to Belgium for an assisted death 14 years ago. She said forcing people to travel alone was “barbaric”. Jenny Carruthers, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, said the Lords were “blocking a law that actually makes the current law safer for people”.
Labour peer Charlie Falconer, steering the bill, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the “procedural shenanigans” of a minority of peers. Leadbeater said the bill could be brought back in the next session if it falls, but warned of public anger.
