Sophie Blake, a 52-year-old mother with stage four breast cancer, has launched a petition calling on ‘the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that when bills are supported by MPs & the public, they have the time to complete all their stages in Parliament.’ The petition comes in response to the House of Lords’ filibustering, essentially talking out legislation so that it fails, of the Assisted Dying Bill. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are calling on everyone to sign the petition and show the Government that a small group of unelected peers should not be able to frustrate the will of the public and the elected House of Commons.
The petition says:
Act to ensure Bills backed by MPs & public can complete all stages in Parliament
We want the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that when bills are supported by MPs & the public, they have the time to complete all their stages in Parliament. 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. With over 1,000 amendments tabled to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, most by just a handful of Lords, we are concerned that it will run out of time. MPs have voted for it and a poll has found over 70% of the public back it. While the Government is neutral, it must uphold democracy. We believe it must act so the Bill can progress.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is currently at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords, where a record number of amendments have been tabled, and the debate has continued at a glacial pace, making it now nearly impossible to pass. The Bill must pass all remaining stages in the House of Lords before the end of the parliamentary session in May or it fails, and peers have only debated 25 groups of amendments out of over 80.
An early day motion tabled this week from Andrew George MP, highlighting the filibuster tactics in the House of Lords, has already received 31 signatures from MPs. The motion says:
‘That this House believes that the use of filibuster tactics in the House of Lords to frustrate the majority will of the democratically elected House of Commons is unacceptable, including where the elected Commons has given its majority support to a Private Members’ Bill; further believes that the case for the outright abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement would be strengthened if such tactics were used; acknowledges that, although the House of Lords often provides a helpful role through scrutinising and suggesting constructive revisions to bills, it should not have the power to block them, nor to use its procedures to the same effect; and calls on the Government to take legislative steps to ensure that Private Members’ Bills backed by a majority in the elected House can never be defeated by undemocratic means in the House of Lords.’
Hannah Slater, a 38-year-old mum of a three-year-old, is living with terminal breast cancer and wants the choice of an assisted death. She said:
‘It’s unfair and frustrating to people like me who want a better and safer death through assisted dying. We’re stuck in limbo while the compassionate choice of assisted dying continues to be blocked by the Lords.’
Richy Thompson, Director of Human Rights and Advocacy at Humanists UK, said:
‘Frustration in the public and the House of Commons over the filibuster of the Assisted Dying Bill is palpable and growing. A small group of peers are subverting the democratic will of the elected chamber. We’re urging everyone who cares about this issue, and about democracy, to sign this petition.’
Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, said:
‘A few members of the House of Lords are shamelessly playing games because they are against the Bill as a matter of principle. It is not a game; it’s people’s lives which are at stake. People who are suffering at the end of their life deserve to be treated with respect and given a choice that the option of an assisted death would provide.
Our elected politicians have spoken – they supported Assisted Dying with an absolute majority. The Government should facilitate getting this Bill into law so that MPs’ votes are not undermined.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan@humanists.uk or phone 07456 200033. (media only)
Humanists UK is making the following photos available to the media to use – credit to Simona Sermont/Humanists UK – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.
If you have been affected by the current assisted dying legislation, and want to use your story to support a change in the law, please email campaigns@humanists.uk.
Humanists defend the right of each individual to live by their own personal values, and the freedom to make decisions about their own life so long as this does not result in harm to others. Humanists do not share the attitudes to death and dying held by some religious believers, in particular that the manner and time of death are for a deity to decide, and that interference in the course of nature is unacceptable. We firmly uphold the right to life but we recognise that this right carries with it the right of each individual to make their own judgement about whether their life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.
We recognise that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards and the international evidence from countries where assisted dying is legal shows that safeguards can be effective. We also believe that the choice of assisted dying should not be considered an alternative to palliative care, but should be offered together as in many other countries.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are both members of the Assisted Dying Coalition, along with Friends at the End, Humanist Society Scotland, and End of Life Choices Jersey.