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03 October 2025 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 8133 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Human rights , Health
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Will the assisted dying Bill reach the statute book?

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In the second part in a series tracking the passage of the Bill, Michael Zander KC reports on the current uncertainty

In brief

  • The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is progressing through the Lords, with debate coming directly after two highly critical reports from House of Lords committees.
  • Baroness Berger’s amendment that a select committee be set up to hear evidence from professional bodies’ was accepted.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill began its progress through the House of Lords with two all-day debates (10am to 4pm) on 12 and 19 September. Because of the great number of peers who had indicated their wish to contribute (191), speeches were limited to four minutes.

There were many speeches in favour of the Bill, many speeches against the Bill, and many speeches in favour of the Bill in principle but not in its present form. How this will turn out, when it eventually comes to counting votes on amendments

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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