Daniel Gover
@danielgover.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in British Politics, Queen Mary University of London. Researching parliaments and UK politics.
London, UK | https://www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/staff/profiles/goverdaniel.html
London, UK | https://www.qmul.ac.uk/politics/staff/profiles/goverdaniel.html
Very happy to be back on the Parliament Matters podcast, discussing the latest developments on the assisted dying bill with @ruthfox.bsky.social & @matthewengland.bsky.social. Thank you for having me!
Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...
Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...
September 20, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Very happy to be back on the Parliament Matters podcast, discussing the latest developments on the assisted dying bill with @ruthfox.bsky.social & @matthewengland.bsky.social. Thank you for having me!
Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...
Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...
I was interviewed on Today in Parliament on Radio 4 on Friday, discussing how the assisted dying bill might fare in the House of Lords.
Listen here (around 7 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Listen here (around 7 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
July 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I was interviewed on Today in Parliament on Radio 4 on Friday, discussing how the assisted dying bill might fare in the House of Lords.
Listen here (around 7 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Listen here (around 7 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Can’t help but wonder whether some punctuation might have helped here.
May 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Can’t help but wonder whether some punctuation might have helped here.
Note that these are the recommended minimum intervals between bill stages in the Lords. Possible though politically tricky to depart from these, given wider concerns about 'adequate scrutiny'.
On this basis, very hard to see the bill passing the Lords before summer recess.
On this basis, very hard to see the bill passing the Lords before summer recess.
May 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Note that these are the recommended minimum intervals between bill stages in the Lords. Possible though politically tricky to depart from these, given wider concerns about 'adequate scrutiny'.
On this basis, very hard to see the bill passing the Lords before summer recess.
On this basis, very hard to see the bill passing the Lords before summer recess.
For comparison, this was grouping of amendments on the Illegal Migration Bill from 2023 (govt bill under Sunak). By my rough count, that's around 200 amendments/NCs in one group (on a single day, approx 5 hours).
On assisted dying bill, it's around 120 amdts/NCs, in two groups.
On assisted dying bill, it's around 120 amdts/NCs, in two groups.
May 15, 2025 at 8:58 AM
For comparison, this was grouping of amendments on the Illegal Migration Bill from 2023 (govt bill under Sunak). By my rough count, that's around 200 amendments/NCs in one group (on a single day, approx 5 hours).
On assisted dying bill, it's around 120 amdts/NCs, in two groups.
On assisted dying bill, it's around 120 amdts/NCs, in two groups.
Speaker has provisionally created two groups of amendments at report stage on the assisted dying bill.
This makes it less likely (than if a single group) - though still not impossible - for the bill to complete its report stage in a single day.
This makes it less likely (than if a single group) - though still not impossible - for the bill to complete its report stage in a single day.
May 14, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Speaker has provisionally created two groups of amendments at report stage on the assisted dying bill.
This makes it less likely (than if a single group) - though still not impossible - for the bill to complete its report stage in a single day.
This makes it less likely (than if a single group) - though still not impossible - for the bill to complete its report stage in a single day.
Given the importance of proper Lords scrutiny, the government should make clear that it will guarantee time for Lords amendments.
I made the same case last year in this piece for @conunitucl.bsky.social.
constitution-unit.com/2024/11/26/h...
END
I made the same case last year in this piece for @conunitucl.bsky.social.
constitution-unit.com/2024/11/26/h...
END
April 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Given the importance of proper Lords scrutiny, the government should make clear that it will guarantee time for Lords amendments.
I made the same case last year in this piece for @conunitucl.bsky.social.
constitution-unit.com/2024/11/26/h...
END
I made the same case last year in this piece for @conunitucl.bsky.social.
constitution-unit.com/2024/11/26/h...
END
For the older precedents of providing CCLA time, see the @hansardsociety.bsky.social's excellent briefing on the assisted dying bill. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications...
For more recent precedents, see 2019 (Conservative backbench bill) and 2023 (Lib Dem bill).
7/?
For more recent precedents, see 2019 (Conservative backbench bill) and 2023 (Lib Dem bill).
7/?
April 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
For the older precedents of providing CCLA time, see the @hansardsociety.bsky.social's excellent briefing on the assisted dying bill. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications...
For more recent precedents, see 2019 (Conservative backbench bill) and 2023 (Lib Dem bill).
7/?
For more recent precedents, see 2019 (Conservative backbench bill) and 2023 (Lib Dem bill).
7/?
I very much recommend the weekly trivia question in the House of Lords newsletter. 🤓 www.parliament.uk/business/lor...
January 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I very much recommend the weekly trivia question in the House of Lords newsletter. 🤓 www.parliament.uk/business/lor...
BBC News suggests that the assisted dying bill committee might sit for two days per week.
This would be very unusual for a PMB (usually only Weds) - but also very sensible, ensuring there is more time to properly scrutinise.
This would be very unusual for a PMB (usually only Weds) - but also very sensible, ensuring there is more time to properly scrutinise.
December 11, 2024 at 9:28 PM
BBC News suggests that the assisted dying bill committee might sit for two days per week.
This would be very unusual for a PMB (usually only Weds) - but also very sensible, ensuring there is more time to properly scrutinise.
This would be very unusual for a PMB (usually only Weds) - but also very sensible, ensuring there is more time to properly scrutinise.
Good description of the process in @hansardsociety.bsky.social's excellent briefing on the bill's procedures. assets.ctfassets.net/n4ncz0i02v4l...
December 11, 2024 at 11:06 AM
Good description of the process in @hansardsociety.bsky.social's excellent briefing on the bill's procedures. assets.ctfassets.net/n4ncz0i02v4l...
Two years in a row.
December 7, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Two years in a row.
I’ve put my tree up.
November 27, 2024 at 9:15 PM
I’ve put my tree up.
For this reason, Commons PMBs tend in practice to have relatively limited scrutiny in the Lords.
The Cabinet Office's guidance on the legislative process states that amendments to PMBs in the second House are 'likely to kill the bill'.
The Cabinet Office's guidance on the legislative process states that amendments to PMBs in the second House are 'likely to kill the bill'.
November 21, 2024 at 11:21 AM
For this reason, Commons PMBs tend in practice to have relatively limited scrutiny in the Lords.
The Cabinet Office's guidance on the legislative process states that amendments to PMBs in the second House are 'likely to kill the bill'.
The Cabinet Office's guidance on the legislative process states that amendments to PMBs in the second House are 'likely to kill the bill'.
I do in principle agree with this concern about consideration of Lords amendments on the assisted dying bill.
However, it would be possible to address the problem - though doing so would likely require additional time from the government.
🧵
However, it would be possible to address the problem - though doing so would likely require additional time from the government.
🧵
November 21, 2024 at 11:21 AM
I do in principle agree with this concern about consideration of Lords amendments on the assisted dying bill.
However, it would be possible to address the problem - though doing so would likely require additional time from the government.
🧵
However, it would be possible to address the problem - though doing so would likely require additional time from the government.
🧵
📣 Legislatures geek announcement:
A week or so ago I went to Madrid, and just look at what you can buy in the two parliamentary gift shops. The Senate selection is especially nice. #legislativetourism
A week or so ago I went to Madrid, and just look at what you can buy in the two parliamentary gift shops. The Senate selection is especially nice. #legislativetourism
November 17, 2024 at 8:33 PM
📣 Legislatures geek announcement:
A week or so ago I went to Madrid, and just look at what you can buy in the two parliamentary gift shops. The Senate selection is especially nice. #legislativetourism
A week or so ago I went to Madrid, and just look at what you can buy in the two parliamentary gift shops. The Senate selection is especially nice. #legislativetourism
Given the complexity and controversy of the assisted dying bill, an additional day for Report would I think be very sensible.
PMBs were used to implement several high-profile reforms in the 1960s - on homosexuality, death penalty, abortion - but all received additional time, allowing more scrutiny.
PMBs were used to implement several high-profile reforms in the 1960s - on homosexuality, death penalty, abortion - but all received additional time, allowing more scrutiny.
November 13, 2024 at 6:17 PM
Given the complexity and controversy of the assisted dying bill, an additional day for Report would I think be very sensible.
PMBs were used to implement several high-profile reforms in the 1960s - on homosexuality, death penalty, abortion - but all received additional time, allowing more scrutiny.
PMBs were used to implement several high-profile reforms in the 1960s - on homosexuality, death penalty, abortion - but all received additional time, allowing more scrutiny.
Titles of all the 20 ballot private members' bills being introduced into the Commons today.
Those towards the top were drawn highest in the ballot, so will be first in line for debate.
Those towards the top were drawn highest in the ballot, so will be first in line for debate.
October 16, 2024 at 8:21 AM
Titles of all the 20 ballot private members' bills being introduced into the Commons today.
Those towards the top were drawn highest in the ballot, so will be first in line for debate.
Those towards the top were drawn highest in the ballot, so will be first in line for debate.
For example, on the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill in 2013, the (then) government argued that the bill should be taken in a public bill committee - rather than on the floor of the House - precisely to enable interested parties to give evidence.
October 15, 2024 at 1:23 PM
For example, on the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill in 2013, the (then) government argued that the bill should be taken in a public bill committee - rather than on the floor of the House - precisely to enable interested parties to give evidence.
The first stage (tomorrow) is first reading - a formality.
At this stage PMB sponsors pick the day on which their bill will have its second reading.
Since Leadbeater was first in the ballot, she's likely to go for the first available day: 29 November.
At this stage PMB sponsors pick the day on which their bill will have its second reading.
Since Leadbeater was first in the ballot, she's likely to go for the first available day: 29 November.
October 15, 2024 at 1:19 PM
The first stage (tomorrow) is first reading - a formality.
At this stage PMB sponsors pick the day on which their bill will have its second reading.
Since Leadbeater was first in the ballot, she's likely to go for the first available day: 29 November.
At this stage PMB sponsors pick the day on which their bill will have its second reading.
Since Leadbeater was first in the ballot, she's likely to go for the first available day: 29 November.
Cannot fault the speed of delivery, at least.
October 11, 2024 at 10:38 AM
Cannot fault the speed of delivery, at least.
Here it is - the latest parliament Christmas jumper. Not sure what I think about this one.
October 10, 2024 at 12:04 PM
Here it is - the latest parliament Christmas jumper. Not sure what I think about this one.
This bit, about the government providing its own time to help the bill pass, remains potentially relevant to the Commons bill.
If additional time time is needed - e.g. to overcome long debates or many amendments - the government may need to provide it for the bill to pass.
If additional time time is needed - e.g. to overcome long debates or many amendments - the government may need to provide it for the bill to pass.
October 4, 2024 at 1:25 PM
This bit, about the government providing its own time to help the bill pass, remains potentially relevant to the Commons bill.
If additional time time is needed - e.g. to overcome long debates or many amendments - the government may need to provide it for the bill to pass.
If additional time time is needed - e.g. to overcome long debates or many amendments - the government may need to provide it for the bill to pass.
On the forthcoming #AssistedDying bill, this is what I wrote in July about Lord Falconer's similar Lords bill.
The issue has now been taken up by the MP first in the ballot - so the bill will be at the front of the queue.
Read the piece from July here: theconversation.com/why-a-house-...
The issue has now been taken up by the MP first in the ballot - so the bill will be at the front of the queue.
Read the piece from July here: theconversation.com/why-a-house-...
October 4, 2024 at 1:22 PM
On the forthcoming #AssistedDying bill, this is what I wrote in July about Lord Falconer's similar Lords bill.
The issue has now been taken up by the MP first in the ballot - so the bill will be at the front of the queue.
Read the piece from July here: theconversation.com/why-a-house-...
The issue has now been taken up by the MP first in the ballot - so the bill will be at the front of the queue.
Read the piece from July here: theconversation.com/why-a-house-...