MP Kim Leadbeater Condemns House of Lords for Stalling Assisted Dying Bill
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has accused the House of Lords of having "signed its own death warrant" by delaying the assisted dying bill, as she joined a protest in Parliament Square, London. The demonstration, organised by the campaign group Dignity in Dying, marked the second anniversary of the death of prominent campaigner Paola Marra at Dignitas and highlighted growing frustration over parliamentary inaction.
Protest Highlights Public Outrage and Rising Dignitas Numbers
Leadbeater, whose private member's bill for England and Wales is likely to run out of time, stated that many MPs are "angry and upset" after the Lords added approximately 1,200 amendments, potentially causing the bill to fall without a vote. She emphasised that MPs had engaged deeply with constituents on this emotional issue, contrasting it with the Lords' behaviour.
The protest coincided with new figures showing that 43 UK residents travelled to Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted deaths in 2025, the second-highest number in two decades, up from 37 the previous year and only surpassed by 47 in 2016. This rise underscores the urgent demand for legislative change.
Terminally Ill and Bereaved Share Personal Stories
Protesters included terminally ill individuals and bereaved family members, such as Catie Fenner, who attended in memory of her mother, Alison, who had motor neurone disease and ended her life at Dignitas in 2023. Fenner criticised the Lords, saying, "1,200 amendments is not scrutiny, that's sabotage."
Others, like Linda Deverall, shared harrowing experiences; her partner, Ole Hansen, was forced to travel to Belgium for an assisted death 14 years ago due to terminal stomach cancer. She described the ordeal as "barbaric," noting that travel restrictions often force people to die earlier than necessary.
Political Reactions and Future Prospects
Labour peer Charlie Falconer, who is steering the bill, expressed "deep disappointment" over "procedural shenanigans" by a minority of peers blocking the bill. He argued that issues should be debated and voted on, not stalled indefinitely.
With only three sessions left before the king's speech, the Lords has discussed only half of the amendments. Opponents fear legalisation could pressure vulnerable people, but Leadbeater defended the bill as "extremely tightly drafted" and suggested it could be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session if time runs out.
Broader Implications for Democracy and Public Support
Leadbeater welcomed moves to remove hereditary peers from the Lords, noting the irony of the chamber "signing its own death warrant" on an issue with huge public backing. Jenny Carruthers, 58, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, echoed this, stating the Lords' actions "will damage democracy" and that the bill offers a safer option for end-of-life care.
The protest underscores a deepening divide over assisted dying in the UK, with campaigners urging swift action to align laws with public sentiment and reduce reliance on overseas services like Dignitas.
