What's happened
The House of Lords is delaying the passage of the assisted dying bill, with over 1,000 amendments proposed by opponents. Critics say this is an attempt to sabotage the legislation, which has already been approved by the House of Commons. The bill aims to legalise assisted death for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.
What's behind the headline?
The extensive amendment process in the House of Lords reveals a fundamental conflict between democratic legitimacy and parliamentary scrutiny. While opponents argue that amendments improve safety and prevent coercion, critics contend that the sheer volume and nature of these proposals amount to obstruction. The proposed amendments, such as recording assisted deaths or restricting travel, highlight fears of coercion and abuse, but also risk delaying or blocking legislation supported by the elected House of Commons and public opinion. The debate underscores the tension between ensuring safety and respecting democratic mandates. If the Lords continue to delay, the bill risks failing before the session concludes, potentially setting a precedent for increased unelected influence over legislation. The support for amendments from supporters of the bill, including Lord Charlie Faulkner, suggests a complex landscape where safety concerns are intertwined with political strategy. The proposed role of high court judges in deciding applications, supported by Lord Carlile, aims to address court capacity fears but may still cause delays. Overall, the outcome hinges on whether the Lords prioritize thorough scrutiny or accept the democratic will, with the latter likely leading to the bill's eventual passage.
What the papers say
The Mirror reports that Labour MP Kim Leadbeater accuses peers of attempting to sabotage the bill through over 1,000 amendments, including cruel proposals like filming dying moments. The Independent highlights that opponents see the amendments as undemocratic and potentially obstructive, with Leadbeater warning of the bill's potential failure if delays persist. The Guardian emphasizes the procedural challenges faced by the bill, with critics arguing that the lengthy amendment process is normal for complex legislation but risks running out of time. Both sources note the political tension, with the bill supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer but opposed by some peers and health officials, reflecting a broader debate over assisted dying legislation.
How we got here
The legislation was approved by MPs in June and seeks to allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for assisted death, subject to multiple approvals. The bill's progress has been slowed in the Lords, where opponents have tabled numerous amendments, some seen as intrusive or cruel, such as requiring filming of the dying process or restrictions on travel. The debate reflects ongoing tensions between democratic mandates and parliamentary scrutiny, with critics warning that delays threaten the bill's passage before the parliamentary session ends.
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