Assisted dying law thrown into doubt as rollout likely delayed until at least 2029

Kim Leadbeater has ‘always been clear that it’s more important to get the … legislation right than do it quickly’, a spokesperson said. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales is likely to be pushed back by a further two years in a delay that supportive MPs fear could mean the change of law is never realised.

The deferral was proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP piloting the assisted dying bill through parliament. It means the initial timeline of two years for implementing the law will now stretch to four.