The daughter of Dame Esther Rantzen has condemned the House of Lords after proposed legislation on assisted dying did not become law.

Rebecca Wilcox, who studied at Somerville College, has a mother who is an Oxford graduate and is battling cancer. She voiced anger that her parent would not live to see the law change, describing how the proposal had been blocked by a small number of peers in the upper chamber.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which aimed to permit assisted dying in England and Wales, collapsed on Friday when there was not enough time remaining for it to complete its passage through the Lords.

Over 1,200 amendments were tabled, with most coming from just seven members of the Lords, prompting claims that opponents were deliberately stalling.

Ms Wilcox said she appreciated the progress that had been made and acknowledged the campaign was not finished for good.

She added that for her mother this was truly the end, and she was furious that her parent would not see the legislation approved.

Dame Esther Rantzen received a terminal lung cancer diagnosis in January 2023 and has since become a prominent campaigner for assisted dying.

The founder of Childline had previously urged the House of Lords not to sabotage democratic processes.

Ms Wilcox said her mother still plans to journey to Dignitas, and she remains barred from joining her.

She explained that accompanying her would result in a police inquiry, cost her job, and prevent her from continuing her counselling role at Childline.