Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has announced that he will declare his position this week on the controversial Assisted Dying Bill ahead of a crucial vote in the Scottish Parliament on 13 May.
The legislation, introduced by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, proposes to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in Scotland. Mr McArthur recently amended the Bill to raise the minimum age of eligibility from 16 to 18, aligning it with similar proposals currently being considered at Westminster.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Swinney confirmed that he has reached a decision on how he intends to vote, describing the matter as “an incredibly difficult judgment”. He said, “I have reached a conclusion and I will set out my reasoning in the course of this week.”
This marks the third time Holyrood will vote on whether to allow assisted dying, with two previous attempts failing to pass. Mr Swinney voted against both prior measures. However, he indicated that his decision this time around had been far more difficult, praising Mr McArthur for drafting a more robust and considered Bill.
“I have voted against both measures previously in the Scottish Parliament and I did that really without any doubt in my mind,” the First Minister said. “I have found the handling of the issue at this moment much more difficult to reconcile in my own mind, and I think that is a tribute to Liam McArthur, who has constructed a much better Bill and the many representations I hear about this issue.”
MSPs will be given a free vote on the legislation, meaning they are not bound by party lines. Mr Swinney acknowledged the weight his decision carries, given his role as First Minister, stating, “I only have one vote in the parliamentary consideration of this issue. But I understand that because of my position, people are keen to hear what I think and what I feel about this.”
While he remained tight-lipped about the direction of his vote, Mr Swinney emphasised his desire not to unduly influence parliamentary debate. “I am conscious of the fact that if I say what I am going to do, it may well influence the debate,” he said. “But I will make my position clear during this week.”
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at Holyrood, which has been examining the Bill in detail, published its report earlier this week. The committee did not make any recommendation on whether the legislation should proceed, highlighting that the matter is one of personal conscience for each MSP.
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Mr Swinney lauded the committee’s approach, saying, “The Health Committee has done an absolutely outstanding job in scrutinising this Bill. I think they have actually done the right thing – to inform parliamentary debate without steering it.”
He added, “They have heard the arguments, they have questioned it all, from all perspectives. I’ve read a lot of the proceedings, I have watched some of the proceedings. I couldn’t tell you what these Members of Parliament believe about the issue – they are just going about it dispassionately.”
The upcoming vote on 13 May will determine whether the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill progresses to further parliamentary stages. Should MSPs reject it at this stage, the Bill will fall, ending another chapter in Scotland’s long-running debate on end-of-life choices.
Campaigners on both sides of the issue are expected to intensify their lobbying efforts in the coming days, as Scotland braces for one of the most ethically and emotionally charged votes in Holyrood’s history.
