The Government has announced 12 further days of House of Lords time that will be set aside for debating the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in addition to the four days of debate that have already occurred. As a result of this, Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have said it is time for peers opposed to the Bill to stop using delaying tactics, known as filibustering, and instead get on and scrutinise it constructively.
So far, peers have debated just 28 amendments to the Bill over two days. But many more than that number of amendments are being added every week. Last week, for example, 21 amendments were debated while 82 more were tabled.
In total well over 1,000 amendments have been tabled, with just seven of the peers opposed to the Bill having tabled over 600 of those. Supporters have tabled just 87.
Unlike the House of Commons, the House of Lords does not usually have closure motions that force debates to end. Every amendment can be debated if a peer wishes for it to be, and any peer can speak to each amendment. Some opponent amendments are clearly nonsensical. For example, Baroness Coffey has put forward an amendment stating that a person can only have an assisted death if they have not left the UK in the past twelve months. This would prevent anyone who had recently been on holiday, or travelled to visit loved ones, from having an assisted death. The Bill is after all for those with six months or fewer to live.
Before the election, the Prime Minister pledged parliamentary time for assisted dying. He made the commitment when speaking with broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen. He told her:
‘I’m personally in favour of changing the law… I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now… I will make time available if I am Prime Minister.’
Welcoming today’s announcement in the Lords, its sponsoring Peer, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, said:
‘The right course now for all of us who are interested in this Bill, opponents or supporters, is to get together and agree the best way that we can use the remaining twelve days that we’ve got on the Bill.’
Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented:
‘We welcome the Government giving these extra days to debate the Assisted Dying Bill. It is time for those peers who have been filibustering the Bill to stop doing so. Attempts to talk it out will only serve to undermine the legitimacy of the House of Lords and the constructive scrutiny it can offer.’
Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, commented:
‘Too many members of the House of Lords, who are fundamentally opposed to the Bill, have been trying to time it out. They claim to be doing so to “improve” it. But the sheer number and implausibility of some of the amendments makes clear this is disingenuous. With the extra days allocated for debate – that they have called for – there is absolutely no excuse for them to continue going as slowly as possible in order to frustrate progress.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
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.