Today has been a sorry day for democracy in this country. After more than 220 hours of debate in both Houses of Parliament, a small minority of unelected peers has defied not only the clear will of democratically elected MPs, but perhaps more importantly the wishes of a large majority of our constituents.
The terminally ill adults (end of life) bill has failed becauseit has run out of time and it will no longer be able to go through the required stages to pass it into law. Seven lords tabled more than half of the amendments of the 1,280 total and have used up the allotted time to debate the bill.
This morning, as on so many days over the past 18 months, I met with terminally ill people and their loved ones. We hugged and shared our deep and heartfelt sadness that the bill they believed would bring the choice of a better, more dignified death would run out of time. The courage they have shown in sharing their experiences of the injustice and cruelty of the current law has kept my colleagues and I going in the face of a relentless campaign of misinformation about the bill that I introduced into parliament.
It was the most robust and safest piece of assisted dying legislation in the world when it was sent to the Lords 10 months ago and it remains exactly that today. It actually didn’t suffer a single defeat in the upper house because opponents prevented it even getting to the stage where votes could be taken on their amendments. This suggests that they, like me, believe there is a majority in the Lords in favour of the bill and wanted to prevent it from reaching that stage.
Today, no fewer than 200 peers wrote to MPs regretting that the bill had fallen, saying they hope the Commons will send it back to them in the next session so they can finish the job they should have done this time.
The best way for that to happen is for one of the many MPs who support the bill to bring it back to the Commons if they are successful in the private members’ bill ballot next month. Indeed, I have had conversations with MPs who voted against the bill last time, but who are so angry with what the Lords have done that they would welcome the opportunity to send it back and allow the Parliament Act – which is designed to guarantee that the elected chamber can have its way if the Lords seek to defeat a bill twice in a row – to help ensure it can’t be blocked again.
This wouldn’t bypass the Lords or prevent further scrutiny as some opponents claim – that’s misinformation again. The Lords could amend the bill if they chose and send it back to the Commons. If MPs agreed, their amendments would be incorporated just as with any other piece of legislation. All they couldn’t do is filibuster for a second time and talk it out. That is what democracy looks like: put your case to a vote and if you lose, accept defeat with good grace.
When I spoke to those brave terminally ill people this morning across the road from Westminster, I promised that our fight on their behalf is not over. We owe it to them to reintroduce the bill.
