'Don't sabotage democracy on assisted dying legislation'

DAME Esther Rantzen has urged the House of Lords not to “try and sabotage democracy’, as peers began the second of at least four days of committee stage for the assisted dying legislation.

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The Childline founder and former broadcaster asked peers to “give us all the choice that you would want yourself” ahead of further scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill yesterday.

The Bill, which could see assisted dying legalised for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, has had more than 1,000 amendments proposed by the Lords - the highest number ever tabled to a piece of backbench legislation.

Opening the debate on Friday, Government chief whip Lord Kennedy of Southwark said peers should present the upper chamber “in the best possible light’, and warned against “long” speeches.