Assisted dying supporters consider rare move to bypass Lords block

Supporters of assisted dying are exploring a rare parliamentary procedure to bypass opposition in the House of Lords, potentially invoking an Act of Parliament to ensure the bill reaches the statute books.

The extraordinary step could be taken if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill fails to gain peer approval ahead of the King’s Speech in May.

The legislation, which received support in the House of Commons last year, is currently being considered in the upper house.

However, as time ran out, proponents of the measure accused some of their Lords opponents of cheating, arguing that more than 1,000 amendments had been tabled; this is a record number for a private member’s bill.

Critics insist they are just doing their job, arguing that the legislation is unsafe in its current form and needs to be strengthened.

Former justice minister Lord Charlie Falconer, who sponsored the bill in the upper house, warned on Thursday: “If opponents think this issue will go away if it is discussed in the Lords, then they are mistaken.”

“Together with Kim Leadbeater MP, who introduced the Bill to the House of Commons, I have sought advice on possible ways forward and it is clear to me that a Parliament Bill is an option, although I strongly encourage the Lords to reach a conclusion while there is still time,” he said.

“One way or another, Parliament needs to make a decision on this issue. The elected parliament voted for it. The public also supports it by a very large margin.”

He added: “And thousands of families with personal experience of the cruelty and injustice of the current law trust Parliament to deliver on its legislative promise.”

Supporters emphasized that they are confident that the Parliament Act will be implemented if the bill is passed a second time.

The legislation allows bills supported by the House of Commons in two successive sessions but rejected by peers to become law without the Lord’s assent.

Supporters of the assisted dying law say there is precedent for the Act being used in relation to so-called “issues of conscience.”

Only seven bills were passed using powers under section 2 of the act, including the Hunting Act 2004.

A source close to Labor MPs and colleagues opposing the bill said threats to pass the legislation using the Parliament Bill’s “nuclear option” were “the act of a bully who knows they have lost the debate on the clause”.

They said the bill was “dangerously flawed” and would “harm vulnerable people”.

“Almost all professional and expert groups consulted on this issue have expressed great concern about the danger this poses to vulnerable people; none will say it is safe,” they said.

“The MPs who passed this Bill in the Commons knew this – many wanted the Lords to sort out the problems.

“People need to be very clear – using the Act of Parliament to push this will mean that none of the known problems with the Bill will be resolved.

“Any MP who votes to push through this will bear responsibility for the inevitable suffering and death of vulnerable people.”