Poll suggests public support peers voting down assisted suicide bill

A new poll has found that 70% of the public believe that the House of Lords have the right to vote against non-government legislation. This comes as peers continue to scrutinise the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill introduced by Kim Leadbeater.

The poll was conducted by Whitestone Insight and researchers spoke with 2,071 British adults. They found that, of those who take an opinion, 70% believe that peers have every right to vote against legislation if they consider that it poses a significant risk to vulnerable lives.

Only one in five, or 20%, believe that peers should not vote against a Private Members Bill, such as the one currently being considered, even if it present a risk to vulnerable people. Nearly half of all those who were polled believe that peers should have the freedom to reject the legislation.

This new polling appears to contradict previous polls that have suggested that the majority of the public are in favour of assisted suicide legislation.

Baroness Grey-Thompson responded to the new poll by saying: "Despite attempts to suggest otherwise, it seems the public are aware and support the ability of the Lords to reject this Bill should we think it necessary. The Bill is not a Government Bill and did not appear in any manifesto at the last election, so the Salisbury Convention does not apply.”

The Salisbury Convention is a constitutional rule where members of the House of Lords agree not to vote against government legislation that was part of their manifesto commitments. Kim Leadbeater’s Bill, however, was a Private Members’ Bill which means that peers are free to vote against the legislation.

Lord Harper, a former minister for the disabled, said: "It is striking that, of those who take a position, the majority of people would support the House of Lords rejecting the assisted suicide Bill should it become necessary. The constitutional duty of the House in scrutinising this poorly drafted Bill is perfectly clear. If it cannot be improved sufficiently, it is our responsibility to ensure it does not become law. This is not a manifesto Government Bill, and we should not treat it as such”.

Baroness Grey-Thompson added: “The most vulnerable in our society are entitled to our unwavering protection and the best quality care - something not provided by this Bill. If this is not possible within the confines of the Bill, we will not hesitate to say so".