Support remains overwhelming for assisted dying as public rejects lords delay

Dignity in Dying has welcomed new polling from the British Social Attitudes Survey confirming that public support for assisted dying continues to be high and stable, with support remaining high through the passage of the assisted dying Bill to date. This follows new findings from More in Common this week showing a majority of Britons would view it as a bad outcome if the Bill were to fall simply because it runs out of time in the House of Lords.

The British Social Attitudes (BSA) 2025 survey, by the National Centre for Social Research, shows that 79% of people say doctors should be allowed to help someone with a terminal illness end their life, unchanged from 2024 despite twelve months of intense parliamentary debate.

Key findings from British Social Attitudes 2025:

• 79% say assisted dying should “definitely” (46%) or “probably” (33%) be allowed for someone with an incurable and painful illness who will die within months – unchanged from 2024.
• Just 16% oppose this, with only 9% saying it should “definitely not” be allowed.
• Support has remained consistently high for three decades, ranging between 78-82% since 1995.
• In Scotland, where a separate Bill is progressing, support stands at 81% for terminal illness.

This news follows new polling from More in Common, which revealed that most Britons (52%) say it would be a bad outcome if the Bill ran out of time in the House of Lords, with just 20% stating they would see this as a good outcome. 83% say that it should be brought back in the next parliamentary session, if it runs out of time. 

The polling also shows widespread scepticism about the motives of some peers, with 44% of Britons believing the House of Lords is deliberately delaying the Bill out of personal opposition to it, rather than genuine concern about the legislation.

Key findings from More in Common polling:

• 52% say it would be a bad outcome if the Bill runs out of time in the Lords; just 20% see this as good.
• Among assisted dying supporters, 70% would view time running out as a bad outcome.
• Even among opponents, 27% say it would be a bad outcome if the Bill fell due to time constraints.
• 44% believe the House of Lords is deliberately delaying the Bill out of opposition, while 36% believe peers are genuinely concerned.
• • 83% say the Bill should be reintroduced if it runs out of time – including 46% who believe it should only have to pass through the Commons, not the Lords.
• • Support for legalising assisted dying has remained stable at 61%, barely dropping below 60% for the past 14 months.

The findings come as concerns mount that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill may not complete its passage before the end of the current parliamentary session in May, despite having passed Third Reading in the House of Commons in June 2025 with cross-party support.

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

“These findings are a powerful reminder that the British public has long supported giving dying people the choice and control they desperately need, and that this support has not wavered despite a year of intense scrutiny and debate.

“But what’s equally clear is that the public expects Parliament to deliver on this issue. A majority would see it as wrong if the Bill were to fail simply because it ran out of time in the House of Lords, and there is widespread concern that some peers are deliberately obstructing rather than properly scrutinising this legislation.

“Terminally ill people and their families have waited far too long for this change. The House of Commons voted decisively for compassion, safety and choice. The public has made its position crystal clear for three decades. Now the House of Lords must ensure this Bill is given the time it needs to complete its passage and become law.

“If the Lords allow this Bill to fail through delay, it will be seen as a democratic outrage by the millions who support this change. In a matter of days, thousands have signed a new petition calling on the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that when bills are supported by MPs & the public, they have the time to complete all their stages in Parliament. Dying people do not have time to wait. The time for obstruction is over, the time for action is now.”

Background:

• The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced by Kim Leadbeater MP in October 2024.
• The Bill passed Third Reading in the House of Commons in June 2025.
• It provides for terminally ill, mentally competent adults with less than six months to live to request assistance to end their own life, subject to strict safeguards.
• A separate Bill in Scotland, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, is expected to reach its final stage in the Scottish Parliament later in February 2026.
• The BSA survey was conducted between 26 August and 6 October 2025 with 4,680 respondents.
• The More in Common polling was conducted between 31 January and 2 February 2026, with a representative sample of 2,005 GB adults.
• The question on terminal illness has been asked regularly in BSA surveys since 1995, showing consistently high levels of support.

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