MPs who backed assisted dying bill don’t expect it to return via act that bypasses Lords

Prominent backers including Louise Haigh say they would not support using Parliament Acts to pass bill

Prominent backers of assisted dying, including the former cabinet ministers Louise Haigh, Ian Murray and Jeremy Hunt, have told constituents they do not expect the bill to be resurrected using the Parliament Acts.

A growing number of MPs who backed the bill have suggested to their constituents they do not support the use of the act which allows the potential bypassing of the House of Lords , where peers blocked the bill.

Kim Leadbeater’s bill passed the Commons by 23 votes, meaning just 12 MPs changing their view would mean any returning bill would fall.

Supporters of Leadbeater’s private member’s bill – which would have applied in England and Wales – have a narrow chance to use the Parliament Acts to bypass the Lords if they can persuade another MP to take it through the Commons again via another private member’s bill.

The bill fell in the House of Lords after opponents submitted more than 1,000 amendments which meant the debate ran too long for the bill to be put to a vote.

Two MPs who backed Leadbeater’s bill came in the top five of the latest private member’s bill ballot: the Labour MP Lauren Edwards came second and the Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George fourth.

Both have said they were considering adopting the bill, though George said he would consult constituents on which issue to choose and said a bill on affordable housing had been preferred by local people.