Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 19th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)]

My Lords, I have no interest to declare other than that I book the Lords Residence Room 2 for Christian Peers of all denominations to meet weekly for interesting conversations and study. The meeting starts at 1 pm and runs for 45 minutes. All are welcome. So, at least I have found something new to say that has not already been said.

I am a believer that there is some higher power, some spirit or energy of creation. It was there before humans and their religions came along, and it is here now with us. If the human race disappears—as it might, faced with AI and climate change—that power, which gives purpose, goodness, beauty and love, will continue indefinitely. For me, it is my source of hope.

That power, however, also gives me the freedom of choice. I have been here since 1997, so, like the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, I have been involved in numerous attempts to change this law. Unlike her, I voted against Lord Joffe’s Bill in 2004, and I voted against other similar initiatives. In 2014, I spoke and voted against the Bill of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer of Thoroton. But much has changed since then, and God moves in a mysterious way, in my experience. I have come now to take a decision to change my mind.

Experience has shown over recent years that change does happen: it happens to churches and it happens to me. When I first came here, there were no women Bishops. The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 changed that. That is a minor change compared with this century’s growth in the world population from 6.1 billion to 8.2 billion—a 25% increase in 25 years. Just think what the 2025 numbers would be if abortion had not been legalised or there had not been wide-scale usage and advocacy of contraception. Indeed, the growth of homosexuality throughout society has reduced the number of children that we would have had. Had the churches had their way, we would have had a very much bigger population than we presently have, facing the difficulties we have with climate change. We all have change taking place around us, including the churches.

For some, dying is welcomed and is peaceful and serene; for others, it is full of great difficulties, pain, anxiety and misery, notwithstanding all the admirable efforts of palliative care. In my experience in recent years, I have seen people with terminal illnesses dying in fear, acute pain and misery. Of course, this can be avoided, as has been said by others, if one has the money. Anyone can go to Switzerland to Dignitas for assisted dying at a price. Further, you can go virtually safe in the knowledge that it is highly unlikely that any punitive action will be taken against you. Why is not such action taken? Is it not because most people see assistance with dying for the terminally ill as an act of caring, compassion and love? For those without the funds for that, this Bill, amended as the House sees fit, provides just that: for them to do it at their home. Who am I to deny that those less able to afford it should not have that choice?