Lammy criticised over isle of man law delay

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been criticised over delays in approving assisted dying legislation passed by the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man’s parliament, Tynwald, became the first in the British Isles to pass an assisted dying law in March 2025. However, the legislation has yet to receive royal assent, which is required before it can come into force. 

For crown dependency laws, the Lord Chancellor must recommend royal assent.

Campaigners and politicians on the island say the delay, now lasting about nine months, is unusual. Dr Alex Allinson, the GP and House of Keys member who introduced the bill, said legislation normally receives royal assent within three to six months. 

He described the volume of correspondence from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as relatively rare.

A Freedom of Information request revealed the MoJ contacted the Isle of Man government 12 times between March and early December about the bill.

However, details of the correspondence were not released, with officials citing confidentiality and the need to protect relations with crown dependencies.

Allinson said the delay was frustrating for residents who had campaigned for decades and taken part in lengthy parliamentary scrutiny.

He urged the UK Government to respect the island’s independence and autonomy in passing laws suited to its population.

An MoJ spokesperson said the time taken depends on legal, constitutional and sensitivity issues, adding that careful consideration supports good governance.

Once royal assent is granted, the assisted dying service is expected to take between 18 months and two years to implement, alongside further consultation with medical professionals.

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