More than 100 Labour MPs call on PM to stop assisted dying bill being blocked

"More than 100 Labour MPs have called on Keir Starmer to stop the House of Lords from blocking the assisted dying bill and give it more time to return to the Commons, with the legislation now certain to fall owing to lack of time. The private member's bill, sponsored by Labour's Kim Leadbeater, will fall when the parliamentary session comes to an end in May because peers have used multiple amendments and lengthy debates to prevent it from being put to a vote."

"In a private letter to Starmer, the Labour MPs wrote that he should ensure it returns to the Commons in the next session after the king's speech. If it passes the Commons again, it would mean supporters could use the Parliament Act to bypass any further blocking by the Lords. It would be the first time the 1911 Parliament Act has been invoked for a private member's bill."

"The letter said Starmer would not need to sacrifice government neutrality on the issue itself and said it was a fundamental democratic principle that the Lords should not block the will of the Commons. The bill was passed by MPs in June last year with a majority of 23."

The assisted dying bill, sponsored by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, faces certain failure as the parliamentary session ends in May due to the House of Lords using extensive amendments and debates to prevent a vote. Over 100 Labour MPs and ministerial aides have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer requesting intervention. They propose returning the bill to the Commons after the king's speech, allowing supporters to invoke the 1911 Parliament Act to bypass further Lords obstruction if it passes again. This would mark the first time the Parliament Act applies to a private member's bill. Opponents argue the bill is unfit for purpose rather than deliberately filibustering, having submitted over 1,200 amendments. The bill previously passed the Commons with a 23-vote majority.

Read at www.theguardian.com