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20 October 2025
Issue: 8136 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Health
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Assisted dying Bill has 'long way to go'

The House of Lords has set up a select committee to examine assisted dying, which will delay the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Beginning this week, 12 Peers will take evidence from the Bill sponsors, professional bodies, coronial services and ministers, and look at how the Bill would work in practice.

Rosamond McDowell, private client partner, and Sir Robert Buckland, policy adviser at Payne Hicks Beach, said the committee ‘must report by 7 November, which represents a delay in the progress of the Bill but not of an order that would endanger its passage in this session of Parliament, which will now last until at least Spring 2026. 

‘It will have no power to stop or reject the Bill.’ They said they expect the committee to sit from mid-November to Christmas with a likely report and third reading in the New Year, and ‘then a return to the Commons for some legislative “ping pong” on amendments during late Winter/early Spring. 

‘In short, this Bill has a long way to go’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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