Dame Esther Rantzen has accused peers opposing the assisted dying Bill of “condemning generations of terminally ill patients to die in agony” as the proposed legislation is set to collapse this week. The broadcaster and Childline founder, who is terminally ill and has been a prominent campaigner for legalising assisted dying, expressed her “bitter disappointment” that some members of the House of Lords “have conspired to sabotage our democracy”.
Bill to Fall Without Vote
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which has been progressing through Parliament for the past 18 months, is expected to fall without a vote at the conclusion of a debate in the House of Lords on Friday. The Bill proposed allowing adults in England and Wales with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval from two doctors and an expert panel.
More than 1,200 suggested amendments—believed to be a record for a backbench piece of legislation—were tabled in the Lords, and the Bill has now run out of time to complete its parliamentary journey before the end of the current session.
Leadbeater Vows to Reintroduce Bill
Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Bill in the Commons in late 2024 and saw it pass two votes by MPs, albeit with a narrower majority the second time, has pledged to enter a ballot to bring it back in the next parliamentary session. However, Baroness Luciana Berger, a staunch opponent, described the idea of reintroducing the same Bill as “an absurd proposition” that would set a “very dangerous precedent”.
Opponents have argued that their amendments were intended to enhance safety, particularly regarding coercion of vulnerable individuals, and that they have been conducting necessary scrutiny rather than simply trying to “talk it out”. But Dame Esther countered that a “handful” of peers had submitted numerous amendments “to block it, pretending to scrutinise the Bill when in fact they were all just totally hostile to any reform”.
Rantzen Calls for Parliament Act
Asked if this marked the end for such a law, Dame Esther said: “I hope and pray that this is not the end of the process. I hope and pray that the members of the House of Commons will send the Bill back to the House of Lords under the Parliament Act which will prevent the tiny majority of Lords from sabotaging it again.” The Parliament Act, a rarely used piece of legislation, allows Bills that have been approved by the Commons in two successive sessions but rejected by peers to become law without Lords approval.
Dame Esther stressed the need for “a humane, compassionate law our democracy voted for”. She added: “Too late for me. But in time for future generations, not to shorten their lives, to shorten their deaths.” Her daughter Rebecca Wilcox, also a campaigner, recently confirmed it remains Dame Esther’s intention to go to the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas, a decision first revealed in late 2023.
