The Scottish Parliament has rejected a bill that would have legalized assisted dying for terminally ill adults. The vote, held on Tuesday evening, saw 69 MSPs vote against the proposals and 57 in favor, with one abstention.
Who Voted Against the Bill?
A significant number of MSPs opposed the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The following representatives voted against the legislation:
- Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
- Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
- Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
- Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
- Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)
- Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
- Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
- Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
- Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
- Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
- Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind)
- Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
- Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
- Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
- Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind)
- Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
- Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
- Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
- Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
- Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
- Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
- Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
- Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
- Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
- Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
- Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
- Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
- Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
- Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
- Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
- Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
- Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
- Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
- Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
- MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
- Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
- Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
- Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
- Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
- McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
- McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
- McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
- McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
- McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
- Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
- Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
- Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
- O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
- Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)
- Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
- Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
- Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
- Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab)
- Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
- Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform)
- Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
- Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
- Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
- Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)
- Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
- Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
- Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
- Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
- Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
- White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
- Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
- Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
- Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)
- Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
The proposals would have required patients to craft two declarations affirming their wishes and undergo checks to ensure they were not being coerced or unduly influenced.
Liam McArthur, who proposed the bill, expressed his disappointment, accusing opponents of an inadequate response to the suffering of dying Scots.
What Happens Next?
A similar bill is currently being considered at Westminster, though its passage before the end of the parliamentary term appears unlikely. The debate in Scotland may be revisited in the future, particularly if public opinion shifts or new arguments emerge. However, for now, assisted dying remains illegal in Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who proposed the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill?
Liam McArthur, a Liberal Democrat MSP, proposed the bill.
How many MSPs voted in favor of the bill?
57 MSPs voted in favor of the bill.
What was a key concern raised by opponents of the bill?
Opponents raised concerns about the possibility of people being pressured into an assisted death.
What role do you think public discourse and evolving societal values will play in future debates surrounding assisted dying?
