'Outrageous': Lords Slam Assisted‑Dying Bill’s Unprecedented Use of Parliament Act

On 29 January 2026, Sky News reported that Lord Falconer, former justice secretary and bill sponsor, suggests bypassing the House of Lords by using the Parliament Act to force through an assisted‑dying bill. Critics, including cross‑bench Baroness Ilora Finlay (doctor, former Royal Society of Medicine president) and former transport secretary Lord Mark Harper, label the move “outrageous” and “unprecedented”, arguing it ignores essential safeguards and could put vulnerable patients at risk. The bill, with 59 clauses, has seen 1,200 amendments tabled and only 88 considered; debates occur only on Fridays. The Parliament Act, employed only seven times in the last century, would require the bill to pass two consecutive Commons sessions, risking failure by the May end of the parliamentary session.