Labour MPs Urge PM to Stop Assisted Dying Bill Blockade

More than 100 Labour MPs have urged party leader Keir Starmer to intervene and stop the House of Lords from blocking the assisted dying bill, which is now certain to fall due to a lack of time in the current parliamentary session.

The private member's bill, sponsored by Labour's Kim Leadbeater, has faced multiple amendments and lengthy debates in the House of Lords, effectively preventing it from being put to a vote before the session ends in May.

In a letter to Starmer, the MPs claim that a small number of peers have been using procedural tactics to stymie the bill's progress, denying the public the opportunity to have their say on this important issue.

The assisted dying bill aims to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in England and Wales, a proposal that has sparked significant debate and controversy. Proponents argue it would provide more choice and dignity for the dying, while opponents raise concerns about potential abuse and the sanctity of life.

Despite the bill's uncertain future, the Labour MPs are urging Starmer to give the legislation more time to return to the Commons, where it could potentially be passed before the current session ends. They believe the public deserves a chance to have their voices heard on this highly contentious and emotionally charged issue.

The letter underscores the deep divisions within the Labour party and the broader political landscape when it comes to the assisted dying debate. As the clock ticks on the current parliamentary session, the fate of the bill hangs in the balance, with the Labour leadership facing pressure to intervene and ensure its progress is not stalled by procedural maneuvers in the House of Lords.