Assisted dying bill to fail in House of Lords after running out of time

Assisted dying bill to fail in House of Lords after running out of time

A bill aimed at legalising assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales is set to formally fail on Friday after running out of time to become law. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for assisted death subject to approval from two doctors and an expert panel, has spent 17 months making its way through Parliament. Having been introduced in the Commons in late 2024, the proposal has now stalled in the House of Lords.

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The legislative progress of the bill has been marked by an intense level of scrutiny in the Lords. Peers have proposed more than 1,200 amendments, a volume described as record-breaking. Of those proposals, more than 800 were tabled or sponsored by a core group of seven peers. Among these, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff and Baroness Grey-Thompson each put forward more than 100 amendments.

The blockage of the bill has triggered a sharp division in Parliament. A letter signed by almost 200 peers argued that the bill’s failure resulted from deliberate delaying tactics employed by a minority of peers opposed to its passage. The signatories expressed regret that the failure would disappoint the majority of the public who support a change to the law, stating,

"We regret that this failure will disappoint the overwhelming majority of people in this country who support a change to the law and were looking to Parliament to enact it. It is now for the elected chamber to decide what should happen next. We believe Parliament must come to a decision on choice at the end of life as soon as possible."

Signatories of the peer letter, via Yahoo

Conversely, opponents have rejected the charge of obstruction. Baroness Grey-Thompson described the legislation as a poorly drafted bill containing large gaps, citing concerns regarding safety and the potential coercion of vulnerable people. Other critics have characterised the bill as unsafe and unworkable. Gordon Macdonald, CEO of the campaign group Care Not Killing, stated:

"The House of Lords have done a remarkable job in highlighting the fatal flaws in this dangerous and ill-conceived bill."

Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, via Yahoo

Advocates for the legislation have voiced deep frustration. Dame Esther Rantzen, who has campaigned for the legalisation of assisted dying, expressed her bitterness regarding the sabotage of the democratic process. Andrew Copson, CEO of Humanists UK, stated:

"Dying people want choice and compassion at the end of their lives."

Andrew Copson, CEO of Humanists UK, via Yahoo

The final debate is expected to centre on the procedural circumstances that led to the bill running out of time rather than its substantive contents. MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, has affirmed her intention to enter a ballot to bring the measure back in the next parliamentary session, which begins following the King’s Speech on May 13. At that time, MPs will submit new private members’ bills for a ballot to determine the order of debate.

Health organisations have called for continued action on end-of-life care. An open letter signed by Age UK, Hospice UK, and Marie Curie urged the health secretary to ensure that the national conversation regarding death results in improvements to high-quality, accessible palliative care.

The debate remains active across other jurisdictions. The Isle of Man passed an assisted dying bill in 2025, though it remains without Royal Assent; the Ministry of Justice stated this month that it could not recommend the bill for Royal Assent at this time, citing a need for further safeguards. Jersey passed its own legislation in February, while the Scottish Parliament rejected a similar bill in March.