𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Terminally ill mum Sophie Blake is urging the Government to “uphold democracy” and ensure the assisted dying Bill can complete all its parliamentary stages. A petition she launched in memory of a fellow campaigner who died in January has been backed by almost 80,000 people. It urges ministers to ensure that bills supported by MPs cannot be killed off by opponents in the House of Lords using gamesmanship.

Writing for the Express, Sophie, 52, pays tribute to her friend Nathaniel Dye, a music teacher who died of bowel cancer aged just 42. She says: “Nat believed deeply in fairness and dignity. He understood that scrutiny matters, but he also saw how delay and obstruction can quietly kill reform. As Nat’s health declined, he wanted to do something for countless others waiting on a law that Parliament had already agreed should pass. I’m carrying his petition forward for him, with his family’s blessing, to honour his legacy.”

The Terminally Adults (End of Life) Bill — which is backed by the Express Give Us Our Last Rights campaign — was passed to the House of Lords last June but is now set to run out of time after hardline opponents were accused of deliberately derailing progress.

Just seven peers have tabled more than half of over 1,000 amendments and spoken at length during debates in an apparent attempt to filibuster.

Nathaniel told the Express in November that it was “incredibly frustrating” to see a small group trying to kill the Bill. He added: “It feels like people are playing games with my life, with my death.”

Should the Bill fall, supporters intend to bring it back in the next parliamentary session. If MPs vote it through a second time, the landmark legislation could be passed into law without the Lords’ consent under the Parliament Act.

The petition urges the Government to “do everything in its power to ensure that when bills are supported by MPs and the public, they have the time to complete all their stages in Parliament”.

It adds: “We believe this is important to uphold democracy. We believe the decision of MPs must be respected, especially on matters of social change, and that unelected Lords have a responsibility to scrutinise bills, not block them.”

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of campaign group Dignity in Dying, said the petition had been signed by dozens of peers in “a clear reflection of the anger and frustration at what people see as a deliberate filibuster”.

She added: “This petition is being carried forward in memory of Nat Dye, a fearless and deeply respected campaigner who had intended to lodge it himself before he tragically died late last month from bowel cancer.

“Nat spent his final months speaking truth to power — addressing MPs and peers, sharing deeply personal experiences with the media, and watching parliamentary debates because he knew that decisions being made would shape how people die.”

In a statement after his death, Nathaniel’s family said he received excellent palliative care and “assisted dying was thankfully not needed in his case”.

But they added: “He, and we, would have found so much comfort and reassurance had he known it was available in case of need. We are so incredibly proud of our little brother and everything he achieved, despite every obstacle put in his way.”

Sophie, who is living with stage four, incurable breast cancer, promised her friend she would keep fighting for choice.

Sarah added: “It was incredibly moving that Sophie and her mum were sitting in the House of Lords chamber watching the debate unfold as the petition launched.

“This is about honouring Nat, keeping his voice alive, and standing up for every dying person and every family who deserves compassion, choice and dignity at the end of life.”

The petition has been backed by leading campaigners, including Dame Esther Rantzen, who also urged members of the public to write to members of the House of Lords.

She said: “Every Express reader should write to a member of the House of Lords explaining that if they succeed in blocking this crucial Bill they will be condemning generations of terminally ill patients to suffer agonising deaths, with no one able to grant them the help they beg for, and the swift pain pain-free death they want and deserve.

“Just pick a peer and explain why you feel so strongly. So sorry to have to ask this favour, but who knows? You might persuade them to do their democratic duty and act with compassion and humanity. And sign the petition! I have.”

The petition surged to more than 10,000 signatures within just three days of launching, triggering a response from the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons.

It said: “Parliamentary sovereignty is a fundamental principle of the UK’s constitutional settlement. This means that it is Parliament, not the Government, that holds the power to make or repeal any law.”

The statement added that the primacy of the House of Commons is reflected in the provisions of “reflected in the provisions of the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949.

“The House of Lords is independent of both the House of Commons and the Government. The Government respects the important role played by the Lords in scrutinising legislation according to the conventions and procedures of the Lords.”

If 100,000 signatures are gathered, the petition will be considered for a parliamentary debate.

Sophie’s rallying cry comes as more parts of the British Isles move towards legalising assisted dying.

Jersey’s parliament voted through the final details of a bill last week, following the Isle of Man which approved its legislation in March 2025. A service could be available in Jersey as soon as summer 2027.

The Senedd in Wales has also voted in favour of fair and equal implementation of any assisted dying bill passed into law by Westminster.

• You can sign Sophie’s petition here.