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 urge Starmer to intervene as Lords delay assisted dying law
Over 150 members of Parliament have joined a call for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to act swiftly in preventing the House of Lords from halting the progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The cross-party coalition includes lawmakers from the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, Plaid Cymru, and Reform UK factions, all emphasizing the urgency of resolving the issue before the current parliamentary session concludes.
Procedural tactics spark debate
Supporters of the bill have expressed concern that peers in the upper chamber are employing ‘procedural tactics’ to slow its passage. Only half of the 1,200 amendments proposed have been discussed in 11 days of scrutiny, raising fears that the legislation may not secure final approval in time.
“A small number of peers have been using procedural tactics to block the Bill in the House of Lords and it now appears very likely that they will prevent it returning to the Commons before the end of this session,”
stated the joint letter to the prime minister, coordinated by Labour MP Peter Prinsley.
Bill’s provisions and challenges
If enacted, the bill would permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to request an assisted death, requiring validation from two doctors and a review panel composed of a social worker, legal expert, and psychiatrist. Despite advancing in the Commons, the legislation has faced delays in the Lords due to ongoing debates over potential enhancements, such as stricter assessments for young individuals and safeguards against ‘death tourism.’
Opponents have been criticized for attempting to ‘talk out’ the bill, prolonging its journey through the upper house. The letter to Starmer stressed that while the government maintains neutrality on the principle of assisted dying, the elected House of Commons should have the final say on the matter, highlighting the importance of democratic decision-making.
Flawed legislation and political divergence
Labour MP Karl Turner, who initially backed the bill but later withdrew support, argued that the legislation ‘isn’t fit for purpose’ and must be scrapped. Fellow Labour MP Ashley Dalton, currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, added: ‘
“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 strengthen the bill rejected, critics claim the law remains vulnerable to flaws that fail to protect those in need.
Lord Falconer, the bill’s Labour sponsor in the Lords, warned that the upper chamber risks being viewed as an ‘irrelevant talking shop’ if it cannot resolve the issue. He also pledged to employ a parliamentary mechanism to override peer opposition, ensuring the bill does not reach an impasse by the end of the session.
