Members of Parliament from both sides of the assisted dying debate are worried that low turnout could influence the vote on Friday, when the bill returns to the House of Commons for its second attempt to become law. The bill, which would allow terminally ill patients to request assistance in ending their lives, previously failed earlier this year after being heavily amended in the House of Lords. The original private member’s bill was introduced by Kim Leadbeater and passed in the Commons last year by a narrow margin of 23 votes. It has now been taken up again by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who argues that the bill represents a crucial and progressive reform and that the Lords should not be allowed to block the decision of the elected chamber a second time. Edwards has dismissed concerns that the vote could create internal divisions within the Labour Party, stating that MPs have already made their positions clear and that in a democracy, disagreements are resolved through voting. She pointed out that major social reforms, such as the right of women to choose whether to have an abortion and the acceptance of gay rights, were once controversial but are now widely accepted. She believes it is time to grant terminally ill people the choice to have more control over their end-of-life decisions. Supporters of the bill are urging MPs to focus on the opportunity to assert the Commons’ authority rather than rehashing past arguments. Jo Stevens, a former Welsh secretary, has expressed frustration with a small number of unelected peers in the House of Lords who opposed the bill despite its passage in the Commons. Some MPs have noted that it is the supporters of the bill who are struggling more to encourage their colleagues to attend the vote on Friday. Although no one has changed their stance, the number of attendees is expected to be tighter due to absences. Two MPs who previously supported the bill are no longer in parliament: Keir Starmer, who recently resigned as an MP and has not yet been replaced, and former Makerfield MP Josh Simons, whose seat was taken by Andy Burnham, who has stated he will abstain from voting. Other high-profile supporters, including cabinet minister Louise Haigh, minister Ian Murray, and former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, have previously written to their constituents expressing unease about using the Parliament Act to pass the bill. This act would allow the Commons to override the Lords’ decision if the bill is rejected again, but it comes with specific conditions.