"There is no telling with any certainty how the vote would go among this eclectic parade of 844 who range from good to very bad indeed, but plainly opponents of the bill think they would lose as they filibuster to prevent a vote at all. Back in the Lords tomorrow and then for seven more Fridays, at this pace there is no chance it will get through in time, unless the blockers give up immediately."
"They know the loss will humiliate Labour and Starmer, who gave time for this private member's bill. Absurdly, opponents deny this is a filibuster, but watch them tomorrow in the Lords and see them talk very slowly, making identical speeches on identical or crass amendments. Last week, they piled into the preceding debate on the agenda to waste maximum time before assisted dying came up."
The assisted dying bill faces imminent defeat as a small group of peers in the House of Lords use filibustering tactics to block debate and prevent a vote. Opponents include Tory figures associated with the Brexit campaign and peers motivated by religious belief or disability concerns, who repeat similar speeches and table crass amendments to waste time. The filibuster strategy leverages repeated Fridays and procedural delays to ensure the bill cannot complete its passage in time. Keir Starmer, having supported the bill, is portrayed as able to use government powers to overcome Lords obstruction and secure enactment against unelected resistance.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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