Plans to legalise assisted suicide will be brought forward again at Westminster in the form of a Private Member’s Bill.
Labour MP Lauren Edwards came second in the Private Members’ Ballot last month, and says she will bring forward legislation that is identical to Kim Leadbeater’s Bill, which narrowly passed in the House of Commons one year ago.
By using identical legislation, Edwards could invoke the Parliament Acts. This would mean that if the Bill is voted through the House of Commons in an unchanged manner, the House of Lords – where the Leadbeater Bill stalled – could table amendments, but would be unable to reject it outright.
The Parliament Acts have only been used seven times in the last century, and never for a Private Member’s Bill.
Supporters of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill falsely claimed that members of the House of Lords engaged in filibustering to block the legislation prompting Edwards to say: “It’s perfectly reasonable for us to ask the House of Lords to finish the job.”
But opponents say the vast number of amendments was necessary, given the poor quality of the Bill. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, disability groups and hospices all opposed it, and while the Bill passed the House of Commons by 314 to 291, a number of MPs said they only voted in favour because they expected the House of Lords to make vital amendments