Swinney finding consideration of Assisted Dying Bill ‘challenging’

Plans to legalise assisted dying raise “deeply significant moral questions”, John Swinney has said – with the First Minister saying he is finding it “more challenging” to decide whether or not he should back the change.

Having revealed last month that he is “wrestling” with the issue, he said he was still considering the matter “actively and carefully”.

But he has vowed he will make his stance known before Holyrood votes on the controversial issue.

Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP who has introduced a Member’s Bill on the issue at Holyrood, has said he expected the first key vote to take place in the Scottish Parliament either in the late spring or early summer of 2025.

Meanwhile, MPs in the Commons will vote on the issue on Friday, with SNP MPs set to abstain.

SNP leader Mr Swinney said that was because of the “long standing” convention that the party’s MPs do not vote on legislation which only affects England and Wales.

And he said the Private Member’s Bill from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater “has England and Wales application only”.

Her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is expected to undergo five hours of debate, with a vote at the end on whether it should go forward for scrutiny by a committee.

In Scotland, MSPs on Holyrood’s Health Committee are already taking evidence on Mr McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Speaking to journalists in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: “On the substantive question of assisted dying, I am finding this more challenging than I have in the past.”

Mr Swinney said he “didn’t really find it that difficult to come to the conclusion of opposing the previous legislation”.

But, adding that the “complex and sensitive” issue “raises deeply significant moral questions”, the First Minister said he was “considering this very actively and carefully”.

Mr Swinney said he was looking at evidence and submissions given to the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee as it scrutinises Mr McArthur’s Bill.

He said this was him being “respectful of the process” as he added there were “divided opinions” amongst his constituents on the proposed change.

And Mr Swinney said: “I have got to make sure I give it that due consideration because in my mailbag from constituents I have got divided opinions. 

“I have got people urging me very strongly to support Liam McArthur’s legislation, I have got others saying exactly the opposite.

“I have got to do justice to their representations.”

But he said he would make his position clear before the first vote in the Holyrood chamber on the Bill, which seeks to give terminally ill adults approaching the end of their life the right to seek help to die.

Under the proposals, those seeking such assistance would have to have been a resident in Scotland for at least a year, be registered with a GP in the country, and be mentally competent.

They would also have to be capable of taking the medication to end their lives by themselves.