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Campaigners advocating for assisted dying legislation are seeking permission from the House of Lords to either extend their debate time into later hours or begin earlier sessions. This request stems from worries among supporters that the bill may not clear all parliamentary stages within the current timeframe. A formal motion has been tabled in the Lords, proposing that additional time be allocated for thorough consideration of the bill.
One potential way to achieve this extension involves lengthening debates on Fridays. However, this approach faces resistance from some Jewish peers due to the onset of the weekly Shabbat at sunset. Additionally, Lord Shinkwin, who has a disability, has raised concerns that later sittings on Fridays would effectively discriminate against him because of his travel needs. If the motion is approved, discussions between different peer groups would begin to determine the scheduling and amount of extra time granted. This decision requires support from multiple factions within the House of Lords, but sources close to opponents of the bill suggest they may refuse to agree to any extension.
The assisted dying bill has attracted an unprecedented level of scrutiny in the House of Lords, with members proposing over 1,000 amendments—a record number for legislation introduced by a backbench MP. Backers of the bill interpret these amendments as a delaying tactic by an unelected chamber, urging peers to respect the House of Commons’ majority, which passed the bill last year. In contrast, critics insist their opposition stems from genuine concerns that the legislation does not adequately safeguard vulnerable individuals and requires substantial revisions before it can be enacted.
For the bill to become law, it must complete all parliamentary stages before the next King’s Speech, anticipated in early May. Failure to do so would result in the bill falling. Nevertheless, those supporting the legislation believe it is possible to use seldom-invoked parliamentary powers to bypass the Lords if the bill is rejected in two successive sessions. This would depend on government support or the chance selection of an MP willing to reintroduce the bill as a Private Member’s Bill at the start of a new session, potentially delaying the bill’s enactment until 2027. A source close to Kim Leadbeater, the backbench MP who sponsored the bill, emphasized the urgency: “This issue has to be resolved. The time has come for Parliament to decide its view. It is far better for that to be now than we have to go through it all again.” The motion, led by Lord Charlie Falconer, explicitly calls for more time to ensure the bill’s scrutiny can conclude before the session ends, pressuring peers to quicken their deliberations even as significant opposition, including from influential religious figures, remains
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