MP behind assisted dying bill makes final appeal before vote

Result on a knife-edge, with at least 100 thought to still be undecided

- Jessica Elgot

Legalising assisted dying is a "once in a decade" opportunity, the MP behind the historic bill has said in her final plea to parliament before a knife-edge vote today.

Kim Leadbeater has urged her colleagues to support the principle of body autonomy in her final interview before MPs vote on a bill that would fundamentally shift the role of the state in matters of life and death.

Asked if she thought people would later regret being on the wrong side of history if the legislation was voted down today, she said: "I think we will look back in 10 years' time and think, why didn't this happen sooner? I think then people will have to look back and think about how they voted."

The Labour MP for Spen Valley told the Guardian the fight for assisted dying was akin to the women's rights movement's push to allow a woman the right to choose an abortion - and that the terminally ill should be given similar rights over their bodies.

More than 160 MPs are hoping to speak in the five-hour debate in parliament where they will have a free vote on the bill, which provides for assisted dying for those with a terminal illness and less than six months to live, subject to approval by two doctors and a high court judge.

Terminally ill patients who back the change and disability activists who oppose it will hold counter rallies. At least 100 MPs are said to still be undecided on the vote, and some are expected to abstain or will make their choice in the chamber itself.

Leadbeater's team have said they are confident in their numbers and new names backing the bill now include Reform UK's Rupert Lowe and the new Labour MPs Terry Jermy, Mark Ferguson, Oliver Ryan, Connor Naismith and Claire Hazelgrove.