Dignity in Dying welcomes extra Lords time for Assisted Dying Bill – but warns it must not be wasted by obstruction and obfuscation

The move was also welcomed by Bill sponsor Lord Falconer of Thoroton, who emphasised that the right course now is for Peers from all sides of the debate to come together and agree the best way the remaining days can be used. 

Sarah Wootton, CEO of Dignity in Dying, welcomed the additional 10 days, which run to 24 April 2026, recognising them as a necessary and positive step forward for a Bill that has overwhelming public support and clear Commons backing.

However, she stressed that additional time alone is not enough if it is allowed to be taken up by procedural obstruction and obfuscation:

“Today’s announcement is welcome. It highlights that while the Government is neutral on the principle of assisted dying, it is not neutral on the need for proper process. It is now essential that these additional days serve democracy, not frustrate it. 

“This must mark a turning point. There is more than enough parliamentary time for full and proper scrutiny, but only if a tiny minority of opposed Peers stop using delay tactics to run down the clock. Not only is the reputation of Parliament as a whole at stake, but so are the lives and deaths of dying people, who deserve far better from legislators.”

Just eight Peers with longstanding, hardline opposition to law change, making up less than 1% of the House, have tabled two-thirds of the over 1,000 amendments, the most of any Bill in recent parliamentary history. Their aim is not to improve the legislation but to delay debate so that the Bill cannot become law, effectively allowing a vocal, unelected minority to overrule both the public and the House of Commons, which has twice voted in support of the Bill.  More than 100 dying people and bereaved families, and scores of crossparty Peers in calling out parliamentary gamesmanship and urging respect for the democratic process. Today, even ardent opponent of assisted dying Lord Adonis raised questions about the risk to the House’s reputation if it subverted the will of the elected chamber.

Speaking about what these delays mean for dying people, Nat Dye, 39, who is terminally ill with bowel cancer and has watched proceedings in both Houses from the public gallery, said:

“Opponents in the House of Lords are deliberately wasting time while mine runs out. Every extra week they spend talking out or blocking this Bill is a week I don’t have. No one should have the power to drag this out until it’s too late. 

“It is not only the sheer number of amendments but the content of many of them. One would require my assisted death, if I were to choose it, to be filmed in its entirety. This would not protect me or my family; it would merely invade our privacy at an incredibly personal time. 

“Parliamentary time needs to be put to good use so that genuine improvements to the Bill can be considered, and the democratic will of the British public and the House of Commons is respected. Otherwise, it’s not just those of us who are terminally ill now who may be consigned to an inhumane death, but future generations of dying people too. Peers must recognise the time to act is now.”

*ENDS*

For more information, please email tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk, or call 07356135578.