Assisted Dying Bill Fails in Lords After 1,200 Amendments, Supporters Vow 13 May Return

A proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales has failed to secure passage through Parliament, almost 17 months after Members of Parliament initially voted in its favour. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill stalled in the House of Lords after peers introduced a record number of amendments.

The legislation, which would permit terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to seek medical assistance to end their lives under specific safeguards, was supported by MPs on 29 November 2024, with a majority of 55, and cleared the Commons on 20 June last year by a majority of 23. However, it did not complete all stages in the Lords, with Friday marking the final day of its committee stage.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill in the Commons, expressed "sadness and sorrow" but insisted there was