The House of Keys has rejected attempts to transfer the island’s assisted dying bill into government ownership, instead backing Dr Alex Allinson’s proposal to amend the legislation through Tynwald.
After more than two hours of impassioned debate on Tuesday, members voted 15 to eight in favour of Dr Allinson’s amendment to a motion tabled by Chris Thomas.
That amendment confirms the House of Keys notes the UK government’s position regarding royal assent and calls on the private member’s bill mover to prepare amendments for Tynwald.
The outcome leaves the bill’s fate uncertain as the clock ticks towards the general election and dissolution in September.
Earlier MHKs rejected amendments from Health Minister Claire Christian and Tim Glover that would have referred the bill to government for a fresh start.
Ms Christian’s amendment fell 12 to 11, while Mr Glover’s was defeated 16 to seven.
‘It can be improved’
Dr Allinson told the House that the bill passed in March 2025 was not fundamentally flawed.
“The bill we passed as a parliament is not flawed. It is not broken, but as with any legislation, it can be improved and the safeguards it contains strengthened,” he said.
Concerns raised by the UK Ministry of Justice relate to the European Court of Human Rights case of Mortimer v Belgium, which requires an effective independent system of post-death review.
Dr Allinson said amendments drafted by the Attorney General’s chambers would address these issues directly on the face of the bill.
“The amendments collectively strengthen compliance with articles two and eight of the European Convention by reinforcing the legislative framework through explicit duties to protect vulnerable persons, ensuring that decisions are free and informed, and introducing enhanced safeguards in high-risk cases,” he explained.
‘Third rate legislation’
Chris Thomas, who originally moved the motion had called for a memorandum from the chief executive officer and a policy delivery report.
He said: “As a private member’s bill, this bill did not enjoy things like impact assessments and costing by the government, and did not really get considered for delivery until very recently.
“I think we have to concede that the degree of deliberation, assessment and scrutiny was less than many would expect to see for an equivalent government bill, which I find especially concerning given the life and death nature of this bill.”
Chief Minister Alf Cannan, who has consistently opposed the bill, was scathing about its current state.
“It pains me to say that you have been warned that this bill is incomplete, that this bill is legally and operationally unstable, that the bill is third rate legislation,” he said.
Julie Edge,who has consistently opposed the bill, warned against rushing the amendments through a single Tynwald sitting without proper scrutiny in the elected House.
“Dr Allinson’s June Tynwald motion, 11 amendments including five entirely new clauses going directly to Tynwald court for approval at a joint sitting, this honourable elected, democratically elected House would have no opportunity to separately scrutinise, debate or vote on those provisions,” she said.
Chief Minister Alf Cannan acknowledged the democratic mandate for assisted dying while expressing concern about the bill’s completeness.
“The bill is not right. It is not safe. That is not because there is a lack of compassion. It is because dissecting the bill, it absolutely does not stand up,” he said.
‘Too serious to get wrong’
Ms Christian however said the time had come for collective leadership.
“The moral question has been aired. The democratic signal has been heard. The responsibility before us now is governance. None of us need to lose for the island to win,” she said.
“The worst outcome for this island wouldn’t be delay. The worst outcome would be that the law fails patients, that it fails professionals, that it fails scrutiny and fails public trust.”
Dr Michelle Haywood defended the scrutiny the bill had already received and expressed concern that the motion before the House risked breaching Latimer House principles on the separation of parliament and government.
“This appears to me to be a clear attempt to drag a bill that has passed through the House and Legislative Council into government and ensure it never sees the light of day again,” she said.
With Dr Allinson’s amendment now carried, the focus shifts to the June sitting of Tynwald, where the proposed amendments will be debated. Whether the bill can complete its passage before dissolution remains an open question.