Supporters of assisted dying are planning to use the Parliament Act to override the House of Lords if it continues to block the bill, resurrecting a rarely used legislative mechanism.
The Parliament Act, passed in 1911 following a constitutional row over David Lloyd George's budget, was last used in 2004 to pass legislation banning foxhunting. It enables the House of Commons, under certain conditions, to enact laws without the approval of the upper chamber.
Under the act's provisions, a bill rejected by the Lords could be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session and, if passed again by the Commons, could receive royal assent without the Lords' consent.
The precise feasibility of this approach for assisted dying has yet to be determined, but supporters argue that the power exists. Whether they will ultimately employ it depends on the bill's progress and the reaction of peers.
