Chorus of criticism as Peers debate assisted suicide Bill

Peers from across the House of Lords were highly critical of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill during its second reading debate today.

In total, 90 Peers spoke, with 28 supportive, 54 opposed and eight uncertain, but there are many more who must wait for the second day of this debate which is scheduled for Friday 19 September 2025.

Representing various political parties and backgrounds there was a chorus of criticism, of both the underlying principles of the Bill and its specific details.

For example, former Prime Minister Theresa May said the Bill should be properly called the assisted suicide Bill. She cited one of her friends who referred to it as the 'licence to kill' bill.

“I have a friend who calls it the 'license to kill Bill'. It is not an assisted dying Bill. It is an assisted suicide Bill. As a society we believe suicide is wrong. The government has a national suicide prevention strategy. We bemoan the number of young people who are lured into committing suicide by social media and what they read on the internet. This week is world suicide awareness week. Suicide is wrong. But this Bill effectively says that suicide is okay. What message does that send to our society? Suicide is not okay. Suicide is wrong. This Bill is wrong and in my opinion it should not pass.”

Labour Peer Baroness Keeley said:

“It is deeply troubling that this Bill and the debates surrounding it certainly before today have given so little consideration to palliative care. I oppose assisted suicide in principle and I oppose this bill. It is poorly constructed and it was rushed through the Commons without inadequate scrutiny with many amendments not debated. Crucially it does not even require that those requesting assisted suicide are offered palliative care assessment first. Yet specialists tell us that palliative care can help people who wish to die rediscover reasons to live. Sadly too many terminally ill people feel abandoned by the NHS due to the lack of palliative care.”

Responding to the debate, CARE’s Director of Advocacy and Policy and Ex-MP, Caroline Ansell, said:

“At the heart of this Bill is an underlying belief that some lives are less worth living than others.

“We profoundly disagree and it was heartening to hear Peers from across the House of Lords being so strongly critical of the legislation.

“As was highlighted during today’s debate, the right to die could easily become a duty to die for some of the frailest and most vulnerable in our society.

“Peers heard that assisted suicide would lead to abuses against the elderly, poor, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities in Britain.

“Assisted suicide would also undermine suicide prevention efforts.

“Not only is the Bill wrong in principle, it is also poorly drafted and this was commented on by many. Lord Carlile gave it a "D minus."

“There are, for example, significant unanswered questions about how it will be implemented and the way it bypasses Parliament by giving too much power to civil servants and ministers.

“As we look ahead to the second day of second reading in a week’s time, we urge Peers to shut the door on this irredeemably flawed bill and instead challenge the government to properly fund truly compassionate, life-affirming forms of support.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For interview requests, further reaction, or background: james.mildred@care.org.uk / 07717516814

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.