Assisted dying backers could use archaic procedure to bypass ‘undemocratic’ block by peers

Assisted dying campaigners protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

Supporters of assisted dying will seek to force through the bill using an archaic parliamentary procedure if it continues to be blocked by the Lords.

The high stakes move – described by some backers as the “nuclear option” – would be the first time the 1911 Parliament Act has been invoked for a private member’s bill.