More than 100 Labour MPs demand Starmer steps in to stop Lords blocking assisted dying law – but critics say ‘flawed’ legislation ‘needs to fail’

More than 100 Labour MPs demand Starmer steps in to stop Lords blocking assisted dying law – but critics say ‘flawed’ legislation ‘needs to fail’

Over 100 Labour members of Parliament have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene and halt the House of Lords’ obstruction of the assisted dying legislation. The MPs argue that peers in the upper chamber are employing ‘procedural tactics’ to delay the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which they believe is crucial for legalizing aid in dying for terminally ill adults.

After 11 days of review, only half of the 1,200 proposed amendments to the bill have been discussed, raising concerns that the legislation may not secure approval before the end of the current parliamentary session. This has sparked calls for the Prime Minister to step in and ensure the bill progresses, as its failure could leave the law in limbo.

A coalition of over 150 MPs—spanning the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru, and Reform UK—has signed a private letter urging Starmer to prioritize parliamentary decision-making on the issue. They request that time be allocated for a final vote in the next session, even if the bill returns via the private members’ bill process.

Blockquote>Our constituents, across the nation, strongly support a change in the law. It is clear to us that the issue must be resolved sooner rather than later. Our ask is simple: that, regardless of the bill’s path post-King’s Speech, Parliament will have time to reach a decision.

The legislation, if enacted, would permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to request an assisted death. This would require approval from two doctors and a panel consisting of a social worker, legal expert, and psychiatrist. However, the House of Lords has slowed its advancement, debating potential enhancements like stricter assessments for young individuals and safeguards against ‘death tourism’.

Opponents of the bill have been accused of prolonging the process, attempting to ‘talk out’ its provisions. Labour MP Peter Prinsley, who coordinated the joint letter to the Prime Minister, stated: ‘A small number of peers have been using procedural tactics to block the bill. It now appears very likely they will prevent it from returning to the Commons before this session concludes.’

Lord Falconer, a former Labour minister and the bill’s sponsor in the Lords, warned that the upper house risks being viewed as an ‘irrelevant talking shop’ if it fails to move forward. He also vowed to employ a parliamentary procedure to override peers should time run out for debate. Yet, Karl Turner, a Labour MP who initially backed the bill but later withdrew support, declared: ‘The legislation isn’t fit for purpose. That’s the truth. And that’s why it needs to fail.’

Meanwhile, Ashley Dalton, a Labour MP who recently resigned from government while undergoing breast cancer treatment, remarked: ‘The assisted dying debate has been called Parliament at its best; it’s the opposite. It’s for Parliament to make good law. It’s not about broad principles—it’s about detail. With most amendments to improve the bill rejected, it remains flawed and unable to protect the vulnerable.’