Bill opponent to present petition urging progress on assisted dying bill as new study shows strong public support across political spectrum

The intervention follows recognition by MPs, Peers and experts that a small number of peers in the House of Lords (all opposed to assisted dying) have caused deliberate obstruction to the Bill’s progress, raising concerns about whether the will of the elected House of Commons will ultimately be respected this parliamentary session.

It comes as new research from the MHP Polarisation Tracker, produced with the Cambridge University Political Psychology Lab, finds that the majority of the British public is united in support of assisted dying across the political spectrum.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“This study confirms strong, consistent public support for change across political parties, including among Conservative and Reform voters, as well as among many people of faith. It confirms that the public is not as divided on assisted dying as some politicians believe, and challenges the idea that this is a fringe or partisan issue – end of life choice is clearly a mainstream concern for the British people.

“When three-quarters of the public support giving terminally ill people choice, the question is no longer whether the country is ready, but whether Parliament is willing to act. It is unacceptable that a small number of peers have been able to filibuster and stall a Bill backed by MPs and the public alike. The fact that an MP who opposed the Bill in the Commons, is presenting a petition from constituents calling for the law to be enacted, shows there’s a clear democratic mandate for change which must be respected. The Government must now step in, allocate time in the next session, and ensure this legislation reaches a final decision – as demanded by 150 MPs, including 100 Labour MPs, and 106,000 members of the public – who have made clear that the will of the Commons cannot be ignored.”

The petition being presented by James Naish MP today, signed by his constituents, declares that an assisted dying law should be enacted following the House of Commons vote in favour of the Bill, and highlights the overwhelming public support for change. It calls on the Government to take all available steps to facilitate the Bill’s progress and ensure that Parliament is able to reach a final decision.

Other MPs, including Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor and Green MP Carla Denyer, will also table similar petitions in the coming weeks, reflecting wider cross-party concern about delays to the Bill’s progress.

MHP’s polarisation tracker is a nationally representative survey of 1,001 British adults shows that 75% of the public support allowing the NHS to provide the option of an assisted death for terminally ill people. The study shows that support spans across political parties, ideologies and faith groups – and is in fact strongest among Conservative and Reform voters. Public support in the polarisation tracker is in line with recent surveys from More in Common, the National Centre for Social Research, and an ITV poll conducted by Ipsos – which all found consistently high levels of public support for assisted dying. 

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For more information, please contact Tom Steen, Media & Campaigns Officer at tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk or 07356135578