The progress of a landmark bill to legalise assisted dying in the UK has been thrown into serious jeopardy after members of the House of Lords tabled a massive volume of amendments, a move critics are calling a deliberate attempt to 'bog down' the legislation.
A Legislative 'Quagmire' in the Lords
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, spearheaded by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, is facing a critical delay. Peers have submitted more than 1,100 amendments to the controversial legislation. The sheer number and the slow pace of debate mean that, despite an extra 10 days being allocated, time is likely to run out before the bill can be approved.
In a strongly-worded letter, eight pro-assisted dying peers, including former top civil servants, accused opponents of using procedural tactics to block the bill. They argued the volume of changes 'suggests other motives than merely fair-minded scrutiny' and warned such actions threaten Parliament's reputation.
'The House of Lords' role is to scrutinise and improve legislation, not to manipulate procedure in order to block laws already endorsed by elected MPs,' the letter stated. It appealed to peers to respect the primacy of the elected Commons, where the bill passed in June with a majority of 23 after extensive committee and floor scrutiny.
Questions Over Starmer's Role and Bill's Future
The controversy comes amid fresh scrutiny of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's connection to the legislative push. A leaked policy note from November 2023 revealed internal Labour discussions, held before the election, on using a Private Member's Bill to legalise assisted dying. This was shortly before Sir Keir publicly stated it would be 'appropriate' to use such a bill.
Sir Keir, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, has long been a supporter of law change based on his legal experience. The leaked document has raised questions about the independence of Ms Leadbeater's bill, though it remains a backbench proposal.
High-Profile Peers Sound the Alarm
The letter of concern was signed by several esteemed figures, including former Cabinet Secretaries Lord Gus O'Donnell, Lord Andrew Turnbull, and Lord Robin Butler. Former Lord Speakers Lord Norman Fowler and Baroness Helene Hayman, along with ex-Lords leaders Baroness Margaret Jay and Baroness Janet Royall, also added their names.
They warned that for the bill to fail 'not on its merits but due to a deliberate procedural quagmire in the unelected chamber jeopardises the reputation of Parliament as a whole.' The bill is scheduled to return to the Lords for further debate on Friday, where its fate will hang in the balance.
