I wrote to my MP about this, and amazingly, he has replied.
Dear Tariq,
I’m writing to you today as a constituent who is deeply concerned by the news that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is at risk of being talked out by a handful of peers in the House of Lords.
Three quarters of the British public support the Bill, the House of Commons has twice voted for it, and I know that all MPs, whatever their view, gave it considerable thought. It is an affront to our democracy if the Bill falls simply because the lack of rules in the House of Lords allow what the former Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman described as “filibustering masquerading as legitimate scrutiny” [
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/ar ... ll-forever].
This is no longer an issue of the Bill itself, but of the damage to the reputation of Parliament if this filibuster is allowed to succeed. This is not just a view of the Bill’s supporters, but respected opponents of the Bill, like Baroness Butler-Sloss, have also argued this case.
Nearly 200 hours of parliamentary time have already been dedicated to consideration of the Bill, and the public expects the process to be completed properly. The Government is understandably neutral on the Bill itself, but must act to protect the reputation of our democracy.
Lord Falconer has said this week that the Parliament Act, designed to ensure the will of the Commons is paramount, could be used to ensure this Bill reaches a conclusion in the next session if the filibuster continues. I believe dying Britons must not be made to wait any longer for this safe, fair and compassionate choice to be passed into law - they simply don’t have the time.
Whatever your views on the principle of assisted dying, I’m asking you to make urgent representations to the Prime Minister and his Government to act to ensure our democracy works as it should and address the filibuster in the Lords.
Do let me know if you will pass on my concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Abernathy.
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Dear Abernathy,
Thank you for contacting me about these most significant issues.
As you will know, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons on 20 June 2025 and is now receiving extensive further scrutiny from the House of Lords. Should the Lords amend the Bill, it will return to the Commons for these changes to be considered by MPs.
I have made my position clear. I will consider any amendments to this legislation. However, I did not support the Bill previously and am unlikely to change my position.
The House of Lords, as the revising Chamber for legislation, has the right to amend or reject the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Members of the Lords do not, however, have a right to filibuster by attempting to run a Bill out of time. In our democracy, it is for the will of the directly elected House of Commons to prevail.
During the run up to the General Election Keir Starmer promised that if elected he would make Parliamentary time available for a free vote on assisted dying. The Government has already made additional time available for the House of Lords to consider the Bill. They should return the Bill to the Commons in time for a final vote.
I would not wish to speculate about the use of the Parliament Acts in this case, although we know that the Government is considering reform of the House of Lords. However, I would support the Government in taking action to maintain our Parliamentary Democracy.
Thank you again for contacting me about this crucially important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Tahir Ali MP,
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hall Green & Moseley.
Well, so far, so equivocal. Tariq, alas, continues to be something of a disappointment.
"The opportunity to serve our country: that is all we ask.” John Smith, May 11, 1994.
- By Andy McDandy
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