More than 100 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have penned a letter to Keir Starmer, urging him to uphold the proposed legislation for assisted dying, as critics are poised to obstruct its passage into law.

Last June, MPs approved a groundbreaking measure permitting terminally ill individuals to choose to end their lives. However, progress on the Bill has hit a standstill in the House of Lords, with over 1,200 amendments on the table. The slow pace of debate indicates that time constraints may impede its advancement, given that the current Parliamentary session concludes in May.

As the Bill nears its deadline for completion, more than 600 outstanding amendments remain to be addressed before progressing to the final parliamentary stages.

Lord Falconer, who sponsors the Bill in the House of Lords, expressed skepticism about its chances of becoming law in this session without significant changes in the strategies employed by opponents.

In a letter organized by Labour MP Peter Prinsley and addressed to the Prime Minister, MPs highlighted that a small group of peers has been utilizing procedural tactics to thwart the Bill in the House of Lords. This obstructionism raises concerns that the Bill may not return to the Commons for consideration before the session ends.

While acknowledging the government’s neutrality on assisted dying, the MPs stressed the importance of upholding the democratic principle that the elected House of Commons should make decisions on such matters. They emphasized widespread public support for a change in the law and urged for a resolution in the upcoming session, even if the Bill does not return through the private members’ bill ballot.

In January, Lord Falconer proposed invoking the Parliament Act of 1911 to ensure timely conclusion of debates. This legislation grants supremacy to the Commons over the Lords in situations where Bills have faced rejection by the latter in two consecutive sessions.

Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell expressed hope that the Lords would scrutinize the Bill responsibly, avoiding the need to invoke the Parliament Act. He reiterated the government’s commitment to finding time for debate in the Commons once the Lords complete their scrutiny.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, if passed, would enable terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to seek an assisted death, contingent upon approval by two doctors and a panel comprising a social worker, senior legal expert, and psychiatrist.