The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is expected to fail in the House of Lords on Friday, 24 April 2025, without a final vote, as peers have tabled more than 1,200 amendments that supporters describe as sabotage or filibustering. Dame Esther Rantzen accused the Lords of 'absolute blatant sabotage' by tabling 1,200 amendments.
The bill, which would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to request an assisted death subject to approval by two doctors and a panel including a senior lawyer, psychiatrist, and social worker, passed the House of Commons in June 2025 with a majority of 23. However, its progress in the Lords has been stalled by a record number of amendments. According to multiple reports, peers have tabled more than 1,200 amendments, which supporters describe as 'sabotage' or 'filibustering'. The House of Lords spent nearly five hours debating the bill on Friday, covering only seven amendments out of more than 1,200 tabled. Opponents of the bill spoke for three-quarters of the debate. If the bill does not complete its passage before the next King's Speech, expected in spring, it would fail entirely.
Pamela Fisher said she may consider going to Switzerland or refusing food and fluids to end her life.
Public support for assisted dying remains high. A poll by MHP Group and Cambridge University's Political Psychology Lab found 75% of the public support assisted dying, with only 14% opposed. Support is strongest among Conservative voters (83%) and Reform supporters (40% strongly agree). The poll also found that 59% of those surveyed said assisted dying should be available to people with greatly impaired quality of life, regardless of terminal illness.
Four terminally ill women protested on plinths in Parliament Square, saying they face a 'petrifying' death without the bill. According to Daily Mirror - News, Pamela Fisher, who has terminal breast cancer, described considering going to Switzerland or refusing food and fluids to end her life. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Louise Shackleton, whose husband died at Dignitas, described that peers 'should hang their heads in shame' for blocking the bill. According to Daily Express - UK News, Dame Esther Rantzen accused the Lords of 'absolute blatant sabotage' by tabling 1,200 amendments.
Louise Shackleton said peers 'should hang their heads in shame' for blocking the bill.
Opposition tactics have drawn scrutiny. Seven of the most vocal opponents to the bill have put forward nearly 600 amendments between them. Over 800 amendments have been put forward by opponents, fewer than 100 by supporters. Lord Falconer, the bill's sponsor, has put forward 35 amendments. Conservative peers spoke for over two hours in the debate, more than twice as long as Labour peers. The analysis by Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision indicates that at the current rate, it would take over 142 sitting Fridays (almost 14 years) to pass Committee Stage, and another 7 years for Report Stage.
Procedural timelines are critical. Around 200 MPs are willing to reintroduce the bill if they come high in the next private members' bill ballot on 21 May 2025. According to Sky News - Politics, Labour peer Charlie Falconer described the bill's chances of becoming law as 'significantly more than 50%', while Dr Simon Opher put it at 90%. It could take over two decades for the Assisted Dying Bill to pass the House of Lords if no more amendments are tabled and the debate does not speed up, according to Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision.
Dame Esther Rantzen accused the Lords of 'absolute blatant sabotage' by tabling 1,200 amendments.
Legal context reveals limited prosecutions. The Crown Prosecution Service has recorded 209 cases of suspected assisted dying referred by police between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2025. Only six cases of encouraging or assisting dying have been successfully prosecuted in England and Wales over the past two decades. According to The Guardian - Main UK, Dave Sowry, who accompanied his wife to Dignitas, described facing police investigation and 'additional stress and jeopardy'.
Care Not Killing opposes the bill, arguing priority should be given to hospice care, not 'turning doctors into executioners'. The campaign group has been vocal in its opposition, emphasizing the need for improved palliative care rather than legislative change.
Labour peer Charlie Falconer said the bill's chances of becoming law are 'significantly more than 50%', while Dr Simon Opher put it at 90%.
The bill details include a requirement for two doctors and a panel of a senior lawyer, psychiatrist, and social worker to approve each request. It passed the Commons with a majority of 23, reflecting deep divisions in the lower house.
Political context includes Keir Starmer facing an 'ordeal by Parliament' after a tense Commons statement on Peter Mandelson's US ambassadorship, according to a Hansard Society podcast. The first session of this Parliament is drawing to a close, adding urgency to the bill's fate. If it fails on Friday, supporters will look to the private members' bill ballot on 21 May 2025 as the next opportunity to revive the legislation.
Dave Sowry said he faced police investigation and described 'additional stress and jeopardy'.
Care Not Killing opposes the bill, arguing priority should be given to hospice care, not 'turning doctors into executioners'.