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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been narrowly voted down at its failed Second Reading in the House of Commons. The vote was 286 votes against and 270 in favour.

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive at Humanists UK, said:

‘This vote provides not one extra penny for palliative care or disability support. On the contrary, it makes it less likely. And terminally ill people will still suffer, travel to Switzerland, and take their own lives in increasing numbers, while today’s inequalities continue. Where can we go from here? Those MPs who said they support assisted dying in principle but opposed this Bill should now look at the many working and compassionate assisted dying laws overseas and say exactly what they would support and the Government should facilitate this. Doing nothing is unacceptable.

‘This vote should never have happened. The Bill passed the Commons last year. Unelected peers, backed by well-funded religious lobbyists, have derailed a compassionate reform with overwhelming public support, and those groups will now be emboldened. The level of unprincipled misrepresentation in both briefings and the media is beyond anything I have ever seen and today is a dark day in the history of our Parliament and our democracy.’

Dave Sowry, Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

‘This result is a travesty and desperately disappointing, first and foremost for terminally ill adults who were living in hope of having the choice to die peacefully and on their own terms. It also leaves the current unsafe and unequal status quo exactly as it is. Those who can afford to travel to Switzerland can do so, while those who cannot are left without that choice and may be forced to endure suffering they desperately wanted the option to avoid.

‘We’re grateful to Lauren Edwards for bravely bringing the Bill back. This is a huge setback, but support for change has remained high for decades and we will continue to fight for a compassionate law.’

Victoria Denning is a former headteacher, mother of two, and humanist celebrant living in Monmouth. She received a shock terminal diagnosis this year, and said:

‘I’m beyond devastated that MPs have voted down the Assisted Dying Bill. How is it possible that giving terminally ill people like me some agency and compassion at the very end of my life is too difficult for our politicians? The only reason this vote happened in the first place is because a small group of unelected Lords blocked the Bill – this is outrageous. 

‘Receiving the unexpected diagnosis of mesothelioma was devastating after having lived a very full, active, and adventurous life. Being told that I probably only have a year left to live made me realise that I have been very lucky until now. But I, like many other terminally ill people, would like to decide myself when I am ready, when I am in such pain and when I have tied up all the loose ends and said my goodbyes. Today, I’ve been denied that choice.’

Hannah Slater, a 38-year-old mother living with a terminal illness, said:

‘I’m devastated and angry. I came to Parliament and asked MPs to listen to people like me, because this is about real people who are running out of time. They ignored me. For politicians, there may be another vote. For people like me, there may not be another time. That is what makes this so hard to accept.’

Labour MP Claire Hazelgrove spoke powerfully about her mother’s own terminal illness:

‘Mum loved life and laughter, and our family will remember her this way. In early 2024, she was told her condition had taken a significant turn. That autumn, while we debated the initial version of this bill, Mum’s pain was excruciating. She had access to good palliative care. But what we learned, the hardest of ways, is that not all pain can be palliated. I will never forget seeing her writhing and screaming in pain – at points, for weeks – none of us will. And I know of no deity that would want that… For us, it will always be a tremendous personal sadness that the current law meant that she couldn’t tell us her plan, that we couldn’t say goodbye to her. But more importantly than that, that she couldn’t say goodbye at the end of her life, or be surrounded by her loved ones, which is what she would have wanted for her death. Instead, the harmful status quo meant that Mum died alone, with photos of us around her… This is the status quo, this needs to change.’

What happens next for assisted dying?

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has failed, and will progress no further. This does not diminish the overwhelming public support for this change, nor the 20 people who die in pain every day despite excellent palliative care. 

It is incredibly likely that further attempts to change the law will come forward in the future, either through a Private Member’s Bill or through other routes. 

Jersey and the Isle of Man have both legalised assisted dying, so some UK citizens will have access to choice at the end of life as early as 2027.

Notes:

For further comment or information, media should contact:

• Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only).
• My Death, My Decision Campaign and Communications Manager Kerry Hogan kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07922 363248

Humanists UK is making the following photos available to the media to use – credit to Simona Sermont/Humanists UK – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.

If you have been affected by the current assisted dying legislation, and want to use your story to support a change in the law, please email campaigns@humanists.uk.

Humanists defend the right of each individual to live by their own personal values, and the freedom to make decisions about their own life so long as this does not result in harm to others. Humanists do not share the attitudes to death and dying held by some religious believers, in particular that the manner and time of death are for a deity to decide, and that interference in the course of nature is unacceptable. We firmly uphold the right to life but we recognise that this right carries with it the right of each individual to make their own judgement about whether their life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.

We recognise that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards and the international evidence from countries where assisted dying is legal shows that safeguards can be effective. We also believe that the choice of assisted dying should not be considered an alternative to palliative care, but should be offered together as in many other countries.

Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.

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.

Jane Brown has agreed to tell the story of her brother Colin’s illness and death and the effect this has had on her, to highlight the need for a compassionate law that allows people like Colin the choice of dying with dignity at the time and place of their choosing.

Colin Mutimer died on 24th June 2025 aged 65.

Jane was with Colin for the last weeks of his life and witnessed the terrible suffering he experienced at first hand. Having been a police officer for decades she was used to witnessing death but what Colin went through has had a deep & profound effect on her.

Jane describes Colin as an independent, gregarious, complex, deep thinking, and  un-selfish man. He played percussion in a band for 40 years, tap danced and was a talented poet who published a book of poetry and decided to donate the proceeds to the Marie Curie charity. He  spent time in his beloved allotment which he crafted into beauty from dereliction. Here, his many friends gathered and chatted and contemplated life. His happy place. 

He was much liked in the diverse community he lived in. They installed a bench in his memory in the communal area outside the flats with an inscription of lines of his poetry: 

Lean on me today, 

There is no better solace, 

Shall blow your tired away.

In 2000 Colin was diagnosed with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2018 he had a cancerous kidney removed. Over the following years cancers were discovered in more & more places resulting in, amongst other things, a series of operations to  insert metal rods in his arm and leg.

In 2023 after much research, he decided to refuse immunotherapy as it would have badly affected his quality of life. He continued playing in his band, swimming and working in his allotment for as long as he could. He was still playing the spoons and singing, and was swimming with Jane, 25 meters underwater, in January 2025.

A long period of decline culminated in March 2025 when Colin had 3 weeks in severe pain at home and was admitted to the Marsden hospital where he had exemplary treatment and was always extremely grateful for the money, time and effort they spent with him. His cancer was found to have aggressively spread even more widely. On the 12th May he was told he had less than 6 months to live and he decided to refuse further treatment. On 15th this was changed to weeks. On the 18th his arm broke due to the bone cancer. Nothing could be done about it. By now he can’t feed himself, walk or toilet himself or use his phone to have contact with the outside world. He wouldn’t let anyone see him apart from Jane, her husband and one friend. So sad for a man so sociable. He cut off all contact as he was so distraught. He felt desolate and in despair. He was in constant discomfort.

Jane says “Colin’s decision not to have further treatment had given him much angst over the past year. He’d researched a lot, including many conversations with the specialists at the Marsden. It was NOT & I stress NOT, a decision taken lightly in any respect. I remember him asking “will it make me stronger than I am today?”, the answer was no, just longer.” 

His last weeks were full of agitation, fear, anxiety and pain. All through this time Jane stayed with him to provide support even if that was just to hold his hand. At one point he said to her: “I’m in despair, I want the day to come”. Jane asked him whether he meant “the day to die” and he replied “Yes”.

Colin’s last couple of days were awful. Jane asked if he was scared. He said “Yes”.

Jane’s last words to Colin were “Go now to Mum & Dad”.

A few weeks before he died Jane told her brother that she was going to a demonstration outside Parliament in support of the Assisted Dying bill. By then he was unable to speak but gave her a thumbs up sign.

During his illness Colin said “You can’t take me to the vet” which Jane feels was his way of pointing out how we treat our pets better than we do people.

Jane says Colin wanted the option of choosing when he had had enough. He would have chosen assisted dying as an option in his last days if the choice was available to him. He just wanted to live life while he could, but he ended up repeatedly saying “Oh man, oh man, what can we do?”. 

Jane says “Colin paved the way for me to carry on without him. He knew he wasn’t going to be here forever. I miss our daily chats about life and he always encouraged self care, saying it over & over & over to me. I just miss my big, clever, quirky brother every day. He had strength, tenacity and resilience in abundance. So so so sad it had to end the way it did.”

Notes to editors
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.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, sponsored by Lauren Edwards MP, is due to receive its Second Reading on Friday 11 September 2026.

The previous Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its Second Reading in November 2024 by 330 votes to 275. It completed its Commons stages in June 2025 but did not complete its passage through the House of Lords before the end of the parliamentary session.

Jane Brown and representatives from My Death, My Decision are available for interview.

Media enquiries:
Kerry Hogan
kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk
07922 363248

France has legalised assisted dying after the National Assembly gave final approval to the legislation, with MPs voting 291 to 241 to back the bill, bringing years of parliamentary debate to a close.

The vote means France has approved a legal right to assisted dying for adults who meet strict eligibility criteria. The legislation will now be referred to the Constitutional Council for review before it is formally enacted.

The law will apply to French citizens and legal residents aged 18 or over who have a serious and incurable illness at an advanced or terminal stage, are experiencing suffering that cannot be adequately relieved, and are able to make a free and informed decision.

The law will not be available to people travelling from the UK. Despite France being just across the Channel, only French citizens and legal residents will be entitled to use it.

Opinion polls, like a February Ifop poll, show that 84% of respondents approve of the assisted dying bill while others show support increasing over the past two decades.

Dave Sowry, Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

“It is encouraging to see the French Parliament reflecting the wishes of the French people, as expressed through their citizens’ jury and wider public opinion.

The French public’s support for this law change mirrors the long-standing and unwavering public support for assisted dying in England and Wales.

We must hope that Parliament here reflects on the cruelty of our current law and follows the example of its French counterparts. To leave things as they are is a choice, and we deserve better.”

France’s reform follows several years of public and parliamentary debate. In 2023, a citizens’ convention made up of 184 randomly selected people backed opening access to assisted dying in certain circumstances by a clear majority.

The National Assembly had previously approved the legislation on three occasions, while the Senate repeatedly rejected it. Under the French parliamentary system, the National Assembly has the final word when the two chambers cannot reach agreement.

The vote comes as assisted dying legislation has returned to Parliament in England and Wales.

Lauren Edwards MP is bringing back the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill after securing second place in the Private Members’ Bill ballot. Its Second Reading is scheduled for Friday 11 September.

The previous Bill passed the House of Commons but fell in the House of Lords after being delayed until the end of the parliamentary session.

France has now joined Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and many other countries who have shown that assisted-dying reform can triumph when the need for change remains clear. MPs here have another opportunity to ensure terminally ill people in England and Wales are not left behind.

Notes

• France’s National Assembly approved the assisted dying legislation by 291 votes to 241 on 15 July 2026.
• The legislation will now be referred to the Constitutional Council before formal enactment.
• Access will be limited to French citizens and legal residents.
• Lauren Edwards MP is bringing back the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in England and Wales. Its Second Reading is scheduled for Friday 11 September 2026.

  Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

  For further comment or information, media should contact Kerry Hogan at kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07922363248. (media only)

  Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

  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.

Jersey has today made history by becoming the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, after its Assisted Dying Law received Royal Assent.

The legislation has now completed the law-making process and attention turns to implementation, with an assisted dying service expected to be available from 2027. The milestone follows years of public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny and campaigning, and is another powerful demonstration that carefully safeguarded assisted dying laws are becoming a reality.

Responding to the news, Dave Sowry, Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

“This is another historic moment for assisted dying across the British Isles.

“We particularly welcome Jersey’s decision to allow people with neurodegenerative conditions to access assisted dying where they are expected to die within 12 months. For people living with conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s etc, the final months of life can involve a devastating loss of independence, communication and control. Recognising that reality is both compassionate and humane.

“While the proposed Terminally Ill Adults Bill for England and Wales takes a different approach, Jersey’s experience will now provide valuable evidence that a carefully safeguarded assisted dying law can be implemented safely in practice. We hope that gives Parliament further confidence as it continues considering legislation for England and Wales.”

Jersey’s law will apply to mentally competent adults who are terminally ill and have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months. Eligible people will be able to seek an assisted death if they are expected to die within six months, or within 12 months where they have a neurodegenerative condition.

This differs from the proposed Terminally Ill Adults Bill for England and Wales, which currently applies only to terminally ill adults who are reasonably expected to die within six months. Jersey’s inclusion of a 12-month eligibility period for people with neurodegenerative conditions recognises that some terminal illnesses involve a longer decline while still causing profound suffering and loss of autonomy.

Jersey plans to introduce its Assisted Dying Service in late 2027, and recruitment has already begun for key leadership roles to oversee the safe, ethical and compassionate delivery of the new service. During the implementation period, clinical guidance will be developed, healthcare professionals will receive specialist training, and independent oversight and regulatory arrangements will be established before the law comes into force

The Isle of Man has approved assisted dying legislation but now awaits Royal Assent, meaning Jersey has become the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to complete the legislative process for assisted dying, underlining the growing momentum behind law reform across the British Isles. As implementation begins, campaigners across the UK will be watching closely as Jersey demonstrates how a compassionate, carefully safeguarded assisted dying service can operate in practice.

Notes:

Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request

For further comment or information, media should contact Kerry Hogan at kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07922363248. (media only)

Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

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.

The Government has failed democracy by missing the opportunity to set out a path forward for assisted dying reform in the King’s Speech, despite consistent, overwhelming public support and repeated votes in favour of change in the House of Commons. My Death My Decision said the omission will prolong the suffering of terminally ill people and their families, by leaving Parliament without a clear route forward after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was blocked in the House of Lords earlier this year.

Dr Graham Winyard CBE , Co-Chair at My Death, My Decision, said:

“Dying people and their loved ones will be bitterly disappointed that theGovernment has chosen not to act.

The House of Commons made its view clear. MPs backed change. The public back change. But instead of doing what was asked of them and enabling the Bill to pass, a small number of peers resorted to procedural tactics and endless amendments to run down the clock until the legislation fell.

That is not scrutiny. It is obstruction.

The Government now has a responsibility to ensure the democratic will of the elected House is respected and that terminally ill adults are not abandoned yet again.”

My Death, My Decision said today’s King’s Speech must not mark the end of assisted dying reform this Parliament, and called for urgent action to ensure legislation can return swiftly.

The campaign group is urging:

• MPs supportive of reform to publicly commit to bringing the Bill back at the earliest opportunity;
• The Government to provide sufficient parliamentary time for proper debate and scrutiny;
• If the House of Lords tries to delay the Bill again, the Parliament Act to be used to ensure the Bill, as supported by elected MPs, becomes law.

Graham Winyard added:

“The need for this legislation is not going away, and the public is only growing more vocal with their frustration and outrage at how this issue was treated in the House of Lords. Over recent months, we have heard heartbreaking testimony from dying people, grieving families, and campaigners who are frankly fed up with being spoken about as though they are victims who don’t know their own minds. This campaign is for those people who deserve better than delay and parliamentary gamesmanship.

The next step must now be clear: bring the Bill back, allow Parliament to do its job properly, and finally give terminally ill adults the choice and compassion they deserve.”

Attention will now turn to the next Private Members’ Bill ballot, currently expected on 21 May, with campaigners urging supportive MPs to back fresh efforts to reintroduce assisted dying legislation at the earliest possible opportunity.

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries, please contact Kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or call 07922363248.

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.

Members of the team and people with personal stories are available for interview.

Today, we raised a half-mast flag saying “Democracy Failed” outside Parliament as the Assisted Dying Bill fell in the House of Lords, marking what we believe is a shameful outcome and a Bill blocked by a handful of peers.

Louise Shackleton held the flag on behalf of dying people and families who have been failed by the current law. Louise accompanied her husband, Antony, to Dignitas in 2024 after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, because the law here denied them the choice they needed at home. 

Louise Shackleton said:

“I am sad for all the terminally ill people that this bill was designed to protect, people who desperately want to live but who have terminal illnesses and face uncertainty and painful deaths. The British public wants this. The House of Commons voted for it. The Bill had momentum, and it should have been decided properly. Instead, we have been left heartbroken; all those words spoken and no decisions made. This is not democracy. This Bill must come back as soon as possible.”

Dave Sowry, Co-Chair of My Death, My Decision, accompanied his wife Christy to Dignitas in 2022, said:

“The case for change was made, but the Bill still fell. We do not accept that this is a fair outcome. It was blocked by a handful of opponents who have stopped the majority of the House of Lords from doing its job.

They didn’t win the argument, and they didn’t win the vote because, despite all their talking, no vote was held.

We are heartbroken and angry, but we are not done. There is nothing humane about a system that forces some people to suffer at the end of their lives without choice. 

The public now looks to MPs to make good their decision to change the law.”

Lord Markham said he is sorry that the House of Lords has “let down the hopes of the nation”. Speaking powerfully on the day that the Terminally Ill Adults Bill fell:

“This Bill has had plenty of time compared to other bills, but the House of Lords has just not chosen to use that time wisely. The reputation of the Lords is poorer for it. My true regret is that we let down 70% of the British population who support assisted dying, who saw the House of Commons pass the Bill, and don’t understand how the Lords can block it without even a vote. But most of all, I am sorry to those people who are terminally ill, for whom the Assisted Dying Bill held out the promise of a safe, humane and pain-free death of their own choosing. The current law does not protect people; it abandons them.

I know I speak for many, many of our colleagues here, that we will try, we will try, and we will try again to bring this Bill back as soon as possible in the next session to do what is right democratically and most importantly of all: to give those people who are terminally ill hope and choice of a better way to die.”

Many other peers, including Lord Baker of Dorking, Baroness Hayman and Baroness Harding of Winscombe, also spoke to share their frustration that the Lords have not completed their scrutiny.

Images from today show the flag raised to half-mast against the backdrop of Parliament, alongside campaigners holding placards and photographs of loved ones, underlining the real human cost of delay.

Today will be the final debate in this parliamentary session. At 15:00, when the debate finishes, the Bill will have fallen. It will officially fall when Parliament is prorogued. 

The House of Lords Committee stage of the debate has surpassed the word count of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace. Over 75 hours of debate, totalling 607,077 words, have led to only three minor changes to the Bill.

 The Parliament Act can be used to bypass the Lords and enact the Bill.

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries, please contact Kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or call 07922363248.

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.

Members of the team and people with personal stories are available for interview.

Campaigners, those affected by the current status quo, and bereaved families supported by My Death, My Decision gathered outside Parliament this week to call for greater choice and compassion at the end of life. This comes as the Terminally Ill Adults Bill is expected to fall in the House of Lords on Friday.

The rally, held on Wednesday 22nd April, brought together individuals living with terminal illness alongside families who have supported loved ones through end-of-life decisions under the current law. Many attending have direct experience of the consequences of the current legal framework, including travelling abroad for a loved one’s assisted death or witnessing prolonged and painful deaths.

Supporters travelled from across the UK to attend, reflecting the strength of feeling at the Bill falling. Images from the rally show campaigners holding placards and photographs of loved ones, highlighting the real cost of inaction and the need for change.

Hannah Slater, a 38-year-old living with a terminal illness, attended the rally. She said:

“The Bill has already been passed by the elected House of Commons, and yet it now looks set to fall because a small handful of Lords have blocked it for months. That is not democratic.”

“I have stage four breast cancer, which has spread to my brain and my eye. I’ve already lost the vision in one eye, and I’ve lost so much independence, but I still want the chance to make the decision that feels right for me and my family.”

“I have a three-year-old son who I love very much, and I am very much invested in living for as long as possible. But I also want dignity, choice and compassion when that time comes.”

Dame Prue Leith, who is a Patron of My Death, My Decision and a campaigner for assisted dying reform, said:

“The House of Lords is there to scrutinise legislation and improve it, not to block it. What has happened to the Assisted Dying Bill is undemocratic and utterly disgraceful. A small handful of peers have flooded the process with amendments and run down the clock, leaving dying people to pay the price.

I became involved in assisted dying because I watched my brother die of bone cancer. He was in terrible pain and begging to die, but the doctors would not give him enough morphine because they were frightened it might hasten his death. He was dying anyway. I remember thinking: where is the compassion? 

The Bill may fall this week, but this campaign will not. The public are behind this, and we will come back”

Dave Sowry, Co-Chair of My Death, My Decision, said:

“Almost a year ago we were in Parliament Square full of a sense of relief that the democratically elected House of Commons had had the courage to pass the assisted dying bill. Sadly we were back today as the Bill is about to be blocked in the House of Lords. They didn’t win the argument because the argument is on our side. They didn’t win any vote because they didn’t allow one to be taken. The truth is that the evidence is overwhelmingly on our side. Public opinion is overwhelmingly on our side.

But sadly, time is not on the side of the people here today, and those around the country who are faced with a terminal illness and won’t be able to benefit from a change in the law.  It’s those people and others who have already sadly died, who could have benefitted from having the option of an assisted death, and those, like my wife Christy, who chose and was able to travel to Dignitas. It’s for those people that we gathered today.

We heard days upon days of debate in the House of Lords with hardly a mention of the people the Bill is designed to help. It’s those people’s voices who need to be heard. We will not be put off, we must not be put off. We will continue to fight for those voices to be heard and to fight for a compassionate law.”

Campaigners said the rally marks just one step in a continued push for reform, warning that without change, more families will be forced to endure the same experiences.

The Bill is expected to run out of time on Friday 24th April, with a small number of Peers blocking a change to the law on assisted dying. The sponsors of the Bill, supported by a number of MPs, are organising to bring the Bill back in the next Parliamentary session. 

Notes to editors:

Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.

For further comment or information, media should contact Kerry Hogan at kerry.hogan@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07922363248. (media only)

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.