MPs from both sides of the assisted dying debate have raised concerns that turnout could affect Friday's Commons vote, as the bill returns for a second attempt to pass into law following its rejection by the House of Lords, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- The assisted dying bill returns to the Commons on Friday for a second attempt to become law.
- MPs on both sides of the debate have voiced fears about turnout affecting the vote.
- Backers have described the bill's earlier rejection by the House of Lords as 'undemocratic'.
- The bill previously passed the Commons but was talked out by a handful of peers in the Lords.
- The bill fell after multiple days of debate because of the number of amendments tabled in the Lords.
MPs on both sides of the assisted dying debate have voiced concerns about how turnout could affect the vote on Friday, when the bill returns to the House of Commons for its second attempt to become law, according to the Guardian.
Supporters of the change in the law have been highlighting what they describe as the “undemocratic” nature of the bill’s earlier rejection. The legislation had passed the House of Commons before being blocked in the House of Lords.
According to the Guardian, the bill was talked out by a handful of peers, falling despite multiple days of debate. The number of amendments tabled in the Lords was cited as a factor in the bill’s collapse.
Backers of the legislation are now seeking support for a renewed attempt to get the law through the House of Lords, following what they characterise as the previous rejection.
The Guardian reports that MPs from differing positions on the issue have both flagged attendance as a potential factor in the outcome. Further details about the state of support for the bill were not set out in the report.
Why it matters
Assisted dying is one of the most consequential moral and legal debates facing Parliament, and the outcome could change end-of-life options for terminally ill people. According to the Guardian, MPs on both sides have flagged turnout as a factor that could bear on the vote's result.
Frequently asked questions
When does the assisted dying bill return to the Commons?
The bill returns to the House of Commons on Friday for its second attempt to become law, according to the Guardian.
Why did the bill fail previously?
The Guardian reports that after passing the Commons, the bill was talked out by a handful of peers in the House of Lords and fell because of the number of amendments tabled, despite multiple days of debate.
Why are MPs worried about turnout?
MPs on both sides of the debate have voiced fears that turnout could affect Friday's vote, according to the Guardian.