Assisted dying FAILS to become law after controversial bill runs out of time in Parliament

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Apr 24, 2026 - 15:29

Assisted dying FAILS to become law after controversial bill runs out of time in Parliament

Assisted dying will not become law in England and Wales after the proposed legislation ran out of time in Parliament.

The controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which had been making its way through Parliament for the past year and a half, fell today with peers in the House of Lords speaking passionately on both sides of the argument.

While the Bill had successfully passed two votes in the House of Commons, albeit with a narrower majority on the second occasion, it did not face a vote in the Lords.

The Bill had proposed allowing adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

More than 1,200 amendments to the Bill had been suggested in the Upper House, with more than 800 of those tabled or sponsored by seven peers.

Lord Charlie Falconer, who had steered it through the upper chamber, saying he felt "despondent" that a piece of legislation which he said was "so important to so many, has not failed on its merits, but failed as a result of procedural wrangling".

The former Justice Secretary under Tony Blair said the Bill had not failed to finish its journey through the Lords due to a lack of time, but rather "because a small minority were not willing to cooperate, as we normally do, to ensure that there can be proportionate debate".