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 call for Starmer’s intervention to halt Lords’ obstruction of assisted dying legislation

Over 100 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to act swiftly and prevent the House of Lords from stalling the passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The bill, which seeks to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, has become a focal point of contention within the upper chamber.

MPs argue that peers are employing ‘strategic maneuvers’ to delay the legislation, with only half of the 1,200 proposed amendments reviewed in the Lords over 11 days. This slow pace has raised alarms among advocates, who fear the bill may not gain approval before the current parliamentary session concludes.

If the bill is defeated, it could be scrapped, prompting calls for the Prime Minister’s involvement. A coalition of over 150 MPs—spanning multiple parties including the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru, and Reform UK—has signed a private letter to Starmer, requesting his commitment to ensure a parliamentary decision on the issue in the next session.

“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 they will prevent it from returning to the Commons before the end of this session,” the letter states. “While we respect the Government’s neutrality on the principle of assisted dying, we are confident you would agree that the elected House of Commons must have the final say on this matter.”

Details of the bill include allowing terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request an assisted death, contingent on approval from two doctors and a panel of professionals. The House of Lords has debated proposals to strengthen safeguards, such as stricter assessments for younger patients and measures to curb ‘death tourism.’

Opponents have been criticized for attempting to dilute the bill’s impact through prolonged discussions. The letter emphasizes that the law’s supporters, across all regions, are eager for a resolution, stressing the importance of addressing the bill’s specifics rather than delaying its progress.

Lord Falconer defends bill’s prospects despite Lords’ delays

Labour former minister Lord Falconer, who spearheads the bill in the Lords, warned that the upper chamber risks being viewed as an ‘irrelevant talking shop’ if it fails to advance the legislation. He pledged to utilise a parliamentary mechanism to override peer opposition should the session end without a decision.

Karl Turner, a Labour MP who initially supported the bill but later withdrew his backing, declared the legislation ‘not fit for purpose’ and claimed it must ‘fail’ to reflect its shortcomings. Ashley Dalton, another Labour MP stepping down as a government minister while 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 improve the bill rejected, it remains flawed and unable to protect the vulnerable.’