Assisted dying ‘bullying’ claim

The parliamentarians behind the assisted dying bill have been warned against triggering a rarely used law to override the House of Lords and force the bill into law. The Christian Institute said such a move would be a “bullying tactic”.

Tensions among assisted dying campaigners and members of both chambers have been mounting, with peers being accused of “filibuster tactics” to delay the bill. The bill is currently at committee stage in the Lords where a significant number of amendments have yet to be debated.

The bill’s sponsors, Kim Leadbeater MP and Lord Falconer, are worried. Lord Falconer said unless there was “a fundamental change in approach”, the bill will not pass during this parliament.