𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer is facing intense pressure to find a way forward for the assisted dying bill after more than 100 Labour MPs signed a ,letter denouncing the use of “procedural tactics” in the House of Lords. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is expected to fall at the end of this parliamentary session after hardline opponents tabled hundreds of amendments and spoke at length during debates to run down the clock.

The letter, organised by Peter Prinsley, an MP and former NHS surgeon, comes as almost 100,000 people have signed a petition urging the Government to act. It says: “A small number of peers have been using procedural tactics to block the Bill in the House of Lords and it now appears very likely that they will prevent it returning to the Commons before the end of this session.

“While we fully respect the government’s neutrality on the principle of assisted dying, we are confident that you would agree with us that we cannot be neutral on the fundamental democratic principle that it is for the elected House of Commons to decide on this matter.

“Our ask is simple. That, whether or not the Bill returns through the Private Members’ Bill ballot after the King’s Speech, time will be found for Parliament to come to a decision in the next session.

“It would remain a conscience issue for MPs, the government’s neutrality would be maintained, and it need not take up time reserved for Government business.”

If the landmark legislation is backed by the Commons in a second session, it could become law without the House of Lords’ consent.

Other letters from Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, Plaid Cymru and Reform MPs bring the total number of MPs calling for more time to around 150.

Sir Keir is a long-time supporter of law change on assisted dying, but the Government has remained neutral.

Backers of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill believe the growing anger of MPs will be difficult for No 10 to ignore.

The number of Labour signatories is higher than the 42 who wrote to the Prime Minister last May protesting cuts to disability benefits. A major rebellion then saw 120 Labour MPs attempt to block the planned welfare reforms, forcing significant concessions.

The letter adds: “Our constituents, in every part of the country, strongly support a change in the law, and it is clear to us that the issue must be resolved sooner rather than later.”

Peers have considered around half of more than 1,200 amendments during 11 days of the bill’s committee stage.

It has been debated for more than 100 hours in the Lords and 110 hours in the Commons — significantly longer than most complex bills.

Meanwhile, a petition has been signed by almost 100,000 people — the milestone needed to trigger a parliamentary debate.

Terminally ill mum Sophie Blake, 52, started the petition in memory of campaigner Nathaniel Dye, who died of bowel cancer aged 40 in January.

Sophie, who has incurable breast cancer, told the Express: “Terminally ill adults deserve compassion, dignity and choice at the end of their lives.

“I welcome genuine scrutiny and strong safeguards, and palliative care must go hand in hand with assisted dying. But some of the amendments being proposed feel less like scrutiny and more like punishment for those simply asking for choice.”

Analysis by campaign group Dignity in Dying (DiD) found just 1% of peers were responsible for around a third of debate speeches and have put their names to 70% of the amendments.

DiD chief executive Sarah Wootton said this was a “blatant attempt to run down the clock and silence the elected House of Commons”.

She added: “While dying people are suffering, a tiny group of unelected peers are wasting their time by talking out a Bill that already has the backing of the public, the parliament, and a growing number of professionals.

“The Government may remain neutral on assisted dying, but it cannot remain neutral on democracy. The Prime Minister must ensure MPs are given time in the next session to make the final decision.”