YOUR DELAY IS 'STEALING PRECIOUS TIME AND CHOICE

Health Editor EVERY unnecessary delay to the Assisted Dying Bill is "stealing precious time and choice", terminally ill campaigners told peers.

- BY HANNA GEISSLER

Opponents have tabled two thirds of more than 1,000 Lords amendments in what some activists see as a clear bid to frustrate the legislative process and derail the bill.

With 10 more days of debate scheduled between January and April, its critics have been urged to stop playing games and use the remaining time constructively.

Sophie Blake, 52, who lives with stage four breast cancer, said: "Every single delay is stealing precious time and choice for those who need it now.

"I'm campaigning so my daughter Maya doesn't have to watch me suffer, and because I want the choice not to suffer. We need compassion, honesty and choice - not political or religious obstruction from those who never support the bill in any circumstance." Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the historic second reading vote in which MPs backed the principle of assisted dying for the first time. However the landmark bill will only become law if both Houses can agree on the final wording before the current session of Parliament ends next spring.

It was introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and has reached committee stage in the Lords, where just eight peers tabled more than two thirds of the amendments.

Supporters believe some peers are trying to talk out the bill by lodging many requests for changes and making slow progress while discussing them, but opponents have denied filibustering and claim the bill needs significant re-drafting to protect the vulnerable.

The Lords debated just 28 amendments in the first two days of its committee stage.

Sophie said: "Watching a tiny group of peers try to derail this bill is despairing.

Some of the amendments are unbelievably cruel and appear to be plain spiteful.