Leadbeater's assisted dying bill to fall: What now?

Over the last couple of weeks, proponents and opponents of assisted dying in the House of Lords have both publicly acknowledged that Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill will not be passed by the end of the parliamentary session.

Since the bill was voted through by majority in the House of Commons in June last year, the Lords have been debating the thousands of amendments put forward by a small number of peers.

Those opposed to the bill argue that these numerous amendments are necessary as the current bill is unsafe and unworkable without them. Those in favour of the bill argue that their opponents are using underhanded parliamentary tactics to run down the clock – something akin to the American filibuster.