Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. In Scotland, it is not a specific criminal offence but assisting the death of someone can leave a person open to being charged with murder or other offences.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had said he was ‘committed’ to allowing a vote on legalising assisted dying should his party win the general election, and now Kim Leadbeater is bringing forward the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

A proposed law to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons. MPs can now see the details and debate the contents of the bill before voting in a few weeks time about whether they agree with the proposals.

A new law has been proposed to legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill adults in England and Wales. Mentally competent adults with a life expectancy of six months or less who have a settled wish to die that has been approved by two doctors and the High Court would be able to do so under the proposed legislation for England and Wales.