The introduction of assisted dying could still become law in England and Wales despite the apparent defeat of the proposal in Parliament.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill and are expected to die within six months to have medical assistance to take their own lives.
The bill was introduced by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, in October 2024.
MPs voted on it three times, narrowly passing by 314 to 291 in the House of Commons during its third reading in June last year.
However, the bill stalled in the House of Lords with peers proposing 1,200 amendments, and 700 of those being introduced by just eight lords.
But according to an email by Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, the bid to legalise assisted dying will be reintroduced.
Her email states Lauren Edwards, the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood, has permission to reintroduce it as a Private Members Bill.
Justifying her position, Ms Yang said: “I voted for the Bill at Second Reading in November 2024, because I support the principle that people who are terminally ill, with less than six months to live, should be allowed to choose an assisted death. However, at the third reading, I voted against the Bill.
“My main concerns around the Bill were linked to the lack of holistic assessment built into the consultation process, which was highlighted by the Royal Society of Psychiatrists.
“Secondly, I was concerned about the way in which the Bill might affect vulnerable groups who have already been let down by the healthcare system, and their perception of the NHS.
“This was a very difficult decision for me to make, and I have great respect for my colleagues, across all political parties, who came to different conclusions.”
Explaining the resubmission of the bill, Ms Yang said: “The same legislation that the Commons passed at the third reading in June 2025 will be voted on by MPs again.
“This will go straight to a vote, as it is identical legislation that has previously been voted through the Commons. At the time, I voted against this legislation passing.
“Currently, I intend to vote against it again, as my concerns remain and the overall picture around palliative care hasn’t significantly changed.”
While she supported some of the amendments Lords had made, she felt the number of amendments proposed exposed the need for reforms.
Ms Yang said: “The fact that seven peers tabled 800 amendments to the Bill, with amendments typically debated one by one in the Lords, means the Bill was doomed to run out of time.
“We need to make sure the Lords is a better functioning upper house.”
A debate on the assisted dying bill is scheduled for Friday, September 11.
