Supporters of the assisted dying bill have admitted it is “near impossible” for the legislation to pass the House of Lords before the end of the parliamentary session in May, due to procedural delays by opponents. The bill, which would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live in England and Wales, passed the Commons but has faced significant obstacles in the Lords.
MPs and peers backing the bill, including its sponsor Kim Leadbeater, have been in intense discussions with the government to find ways to move it to a vote. However, with progress slow, experts believe it is unlikely even to be put to a vote before the session ends, after which it will automatically fall. One MP described the situation as “our system at its absolute most dysfunctional”.
Several MPs named former Conservative ministers Michael Gove, Thérèse Coffey, David Frost and Mark Harper as peers determined to stop the bill. Opponents deny filibustering, arguing the bill is so flawed it merits full scrutiny. A source said MPs should have expected the bill to fall in the Lords, which is “routine” for private members’ bills.
Dr Simon Opher, a Labour MP on the bill committee, called the situation “an absolute disgrace” and a threat to democracy, adding it would hasten the abolition of the unelected second chamber. A minister said opponents were “making a mockery of our parliamentary system”. Another MP called for extensive Lords reform, noting the chamber lost its veto power a century ago after frustrating the will of the people.
Leadbeater said she struggles to tell the public the bill is not yet certain. Supporters believe no amount of government time could stop opponents using procedure to run down the clock. One peer said opponents “show no interest in making progress” and give near identical speeches. Another said a handful of people can “throw sand in the gears” without the Speaker having power to stop it.
Opponents reject accusations of dirty tricks, saying the bill is in an unacceptable state. A senior opponent said supporters set false expectations. Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, who opposed the bill, said scrutiny should not be conflated with obstruction, noting no royal college or cabinet minister attests to its safety.
