Is the assisted dying bill ever likely to become law?

The assisted dying bill, potentially one of the most momentous pieces of social legislation in decades, is itself on life support.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Its progress through the House of Lords has become so slow that there is a significant chance that it will simply run out of time to be made law in this parliamentary session, which ends in May - the effective deadline for the Lords is 24 April. At that point it could effectively be lost for the remainder of this parliament, ie for some years ahead. However, the bill's supporters are not going gently into that good night, and they think it could soon be resurrected...

What’s the problem?

As a private member’s bill that is controversial and has attracted a good deal of resistance, it is highly vulnerable to being talked out - becoming victim to a filibuster – unless the government backs it with virtually unlimited time (which a government with a “neutral”, indeed divided, attitude won’t do). So the bill’s sponsors, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and Labour peer Charlie Falconer, say that they will use the Parliament Act to override the wishes of the Lords, and effectively force the bill through.

How does that work?