If the House of Lords times out the Assisted Dying Bill, it would break the Prime Minister’s pre-election pledge, as well as manifesto commitments by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Greens. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are urging the Government to make sure the Terminally Ill Adults Bill has time to be fully debated by the House of Lords.
Labour Party
The Labour manifesto did not mention assisted dying. However, the Prime Minister pledged parliamentary time for assisted dying. He made the commitment when speaking with broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who announced in December 2024 that she had joined the Swiss assisted dying centre Dignitas. He told her:
‘I’m personally in favour of changing the law… I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now… I will make time available if I am Prime Minister.’
During that same phone call, he was pressed if he meant during the next parliament, and he said:
‘Oh yes, definitely, and I think Esther would agree with this for people who are going through this or are likely to go through this in the next months or the next year, this matters hugely and delay just prolongs the agony’.
If the Lords filibuster the Bill such that it falls due to lack of time, then the PM’s pledge would be broken.
Conservative Party:
The Conservative manifesto stated:
‘We will maintain the position that assisted dying is a matter of conscience and will respect the will of Parliament. Debates on assisted dying should never distract from the importance of delivering high-quality palliative care services and we will continue to support children’s and adults’ hospices.’
Furthermore, Rishi Sunak, then leader of the party, pledged in February 2024 that his party would also support allowing enough parliamentary time for a meaningful debate and vote on assisted dying.
Not only is this pledge broken by filibustering. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision would also argue that filibustering the Assisted Dying Bill does not ‘respect the will of Parliament’.
Out of just over eight hours of debate so far in the Committee of the Whole House, Conservative peers have spoken for 40% of the time. Conservative peers have put forward more than 440 amendments.
Liberal Democrats:
The Lib Dem manifesto stated:
‘Give Parliament time to fully debate and vote on legislation on assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with strict safeguards, subject to a free vote’
Filibustering prevents full debate.
Green Party:
The Green manifesto stated:
‘Elected Greens will back changing the law on assisted dying. We support a humane and dignified approach to terminal illness, allowing people to choose to end their lives to avoid prolonging unnecessary suffering, if this is their clear and settled will. Proper safeguards would need to be put in place.’
Reform Party:
The Reform Party manifesto did not mention assisted dying. Two out of the four Reform Party MPs at the time of the second reading in the Commons voted for the Bill. Reform does not have members in the House of Lords.
Are members of the House of Lords filibustering?
Peers have been accused of attempting to filibuster the Bill, essentially causing the Bill to fail by proposing an unreasonable number of amendments and deliberately making unnecessary speeches in order to time it out. Analysis by Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision has shown that seven of the most vocal opponents to the Bill have put forward over 600 amendments between them.
Last Friday, in the Committee of the Whole House, peers debated only one group, representing 21 amendments. Meanwhile, 82 new amendments were added. Our analysis suggests it would take two decades to debate all the current amendments.
The Bill must pass all stages in the Lords and Commons before Spring 2026, or it fails. At the current rate of debate, it will not pass.
Help us support the Assisted Dying Bill and stop the filibustering in the House of Lords. Raise the issue and send a postcard to peers today. Write to peers.
Juliette Sykes, whose husband Tim died without the option of an assisted death, said:
‘When Tim was dying, he begged for a peaceful end, but the law trapped him in unbearable suffering. Watching a handful of Peers now stall this Bill makes me furious. They may see it as politics, but for families like mine, it is personal and cruel. We have been promised a fair debate. It would be a complete failure of the Government if this falls through, and would condemn more people to die like Tim.’
Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Humanists UK, said:
‘The Assisted Dying Bill is being deliberately delayed by a small minority of peers despite clear manifesto commitments from all major parties to allow time for debate. Filibustering tactics like these not only undermine the democratic process but also go against the expressed will of the public and many elected representatives across party lines.’
Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, said:
‘For those who are terminally ill and facing unbearable suffering, these delays are not just procedural; they are deeply personal. Every day that passes without progress means more people are denied the choice of a dignified end. They are watching this process unfold with hope and urgency, and they deserve more than to see their future decided by deliberate stalling.’
Notes
For further comment or information, the media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456 200033. (media only)
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are both members of the Assisted Dying Coalition, along with Friends at the End, Humanist Society Scotland, and End of Life Choices Jersey.
