Esther: Don't block assisted dying bill

Terminally ill star urges peers to let proposal to become full law

- BY MIKEY SMITH Deputy Political Editor and PATRICK HILL

DAME Esther Rantzen has urged the UK's House of Lords not to block the assisted dying legislation.

The landmark Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill cleared the Commons with a majority of 23 votes on Friday.

But it could face a difficult passage through the Lords as critics seek to add further restrictions and safeguards.

Campaigner Dame Esther, who has terminal cancer, said: “The [Lords'] job is to scrutinise, to ask questions, but not to oppose.

“People who are adamantly opposed to this bill will try and stop it going through the Lords.