The vote was won but the debate on 'deeply flawed' assisted dying bill is far from over

The assisted dying bill may have passed in the House of Commons last week, with Kim Leadbeater, the MP who introduced it, saying she hopes it could have royal assent by October.

- Catherine Neilan

But the Labour peer Charlie Falconer, who is tasked with shepherding the historic legislation through the House of Lords, says it is likely to be debated for many months. "I think we will be debating this in the summer, autumn and winter," the former justice secretary has said.

The bill has a complex route ahead, navigating fierce opposition and passionate support, and will likely be subjected to many amendment debates. In the Commons, with last-minute switchers on both sides, the majority narrowed to just 23 MPs, compared with 55 who backed the bill at an earlier stage. It is expected to be robustly debated in the Lords before being sent back to the Commons.

Critics of the bill argue that it was rushed during the Commons stages, resulting in a "flawed" piece of legislation that will require significant change in the remaining stages. But Falconer insists the bill had been thoroughly debated by MPs and warned peers against tactical "attempts to stretch it out".