Illustration by Jonathan McHugh The past 18 months have been “very intense” for Kim Leadbeater. Resting on the table between us in the Labour MP’s Westminster office is her bill – officially, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, but more commonly referred to as the assisted dying bill. Printed on green paper, heavily annotated in biro – circles, arrows, with plenty of underlining and comments in the margin – this legislation would have brought about the most significant social change to the UK in decades. Adults considered to have six months or less to live would be granted access to life-ending medication, subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel. Leadbeater entered politics after the murder of her sister Jo Cox in 2016 – the first assassination of a sitting MP for more than a quarter of a century. She felt compelled to “make a difference”. Coming top of the private members’ ballot in September 2024 was an opportunity for her to do just that.…