“I promised Nat I would keep fighting for choice”: Terminally ill campaigner launches assisted dying petition in Nat Dye’s memory

A terminally ill campaigner is today formally launching an official Government petition on assisted dying in memory of her close friend Nat Dye, after promising him before he died that she would continue fighting for dignity, fairness and democratic accountability.

Sophie Blake, age 53, who is living with incurable secondary breast cancer, is leading the petition with the permission and support of Nat’s family. Nat died last week, aged 40, having been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022. Nat was an indefatigable, courageous and inspirational campaigner, unafraid to speak truth to power – from sharing his deeply personal journey with the media, to addressing MPs and Peers in Parliament and tirelessly reminding them of the importance of the need for choice at the end of life. 

The petition calls on the Government to act to ensure that Bills backed by MPs and the public are given the time they need to complete all their stages in Parliament. It raises concerns that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, despite being passed by MPs last summer and backed by a clear majority of the public, risks being blocked through delay and procedural obstruction by a handful of opponents in the House of Lords.

Sophie Blake said:

“Before Nat died, I promised him I would keep fighting. He believed fiercely in dignity, fairness and people being heard right to the end of life, and I won’t let his voice disappear now he’s gone. I’m living with secondary breast cancer, and like Nat, I know what it means to face the reality of dying while time is being wasted in Westminster. This petition is for Nat, for me, for terminally ill people, and for families who have watched someone they love suffer unnecessarily. All we are asking for is choice, but this risks slipping away because of the actions of a tiny number of unelected politicians. How can that be fair? When MPs and the public have spoken unequivocally, democracy demands that Parliament sees it through.”

The petition argues that while the House of Lords has a vital role in scrutinising legislation, it should not be allowed to block or run down the clock on Bills that have already been approved by elected MPs.

Sarah Wootton, CEO of Dignity in Dying, said:

“Nat’s death is a devastating reminder of what is at stake when Parliament fails to act. This is about more than this Bill – it is about whether our democratic system can deliver change supported by elected representatives and the public. Every day of delay has real human consequences. Terminally ill people do not have the luxury of waiting for parliamentary games to play out. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that proper scrutiny does not become deliberate obstruction, and that this Bill is given the time it needs to reach a conclusion.”

The petition calls on the Government to actively protect democratic process by ensuring that Bills supported by MPs and the public – as reflected in multiple opinion polls, including a June 2025 YouGov poll showing 72% support for assisted dying – are not derailed by delay, and that Parliament is allowed to reach a clear decision.

*ENDS*

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