In a landmark final vote Members of the Scottish Parliament voted to reject a new assisted suicide law by a larger than expected margin.
Following several years of discussion and debate the final proposals for a new law introducing assisted suicide in Scotland came before the Scottish Parliament and were rejected by 69 votes to 57. While in his closing speech Liam McArthur, who had sponsored the bill, appeared to concede defeat, the parliament had backed the bill previously and it was expected that the final decision could turn on a tiny number of votes.
Campaigners from a wide variety of groups welcomed the outcome with an overwhelming sense of relief. The law, if passed, would have enabled people with a prognosis of less than six months to live to be supported to take their own life. However, the law did little to ensure that the most vulnerable are not coerced against their will, and removed all protection from medics who could not in good conscience take part in delivering this service.
Jeremy Balfour, independent MSP, spoke powerfully during the debate: “In passing the bill, we would be opening a Pandora’s box and the effects on the most vulnerable people in our society would be devastating. Despite what we have heard from those on the other side of the debate, there can be no meaningful protection against coercion and we cannot legislate against the feeling of being a burden. We cannot legislate for the throwaway comments that make me and others feel that our lives are worth less.”
Speaking for the Evangelical Alliance, UK director Peter Lynas commented immediately after the vote: “We welcome the Scottish Parliament’s decision to reject assisted suicide, prioritising the protection of life and the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable. The proposed legislation was unsafe, unworkable, and risked undermining the value of those who are elderly, disabled or nearing the end of life.
“Scotland must be a place where everyone can live with dignity and thrive. This decision should ensure renewed commitment to high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care across our health and social care systems.”
"The proposed legislation was unsafe, unworkable, and risked undermining the value of those who are elderly, disabled or nearing the end of life."
While pressure groups advocating for a change in the law bought adverts on the front of all major Scottish newspapers, the campaign resisting the change spanned every sector of society and saw MSPs scrutinise legislation for what it would actually do, not what people wanted it to do. From medical groups to disability campaigners, from legal experts to Christian leaders, the coalition of opposition urging caution and eventually successfully persuading politicians to reject the change was powerful and diverse.
Dr Gordon Macdonald, who led the campaigning coalition Care Not Killing, expressed his relief after the vote: “We believe the bill posed serious risks to the most vulnerable in society – including disabled people and those suffering from domestic abuse.”
The vote, in the final few days of this parliament’s session, saw former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousef join current First and Deputy First Ministers John Swinney and Kate Forbes, in voting against the proposed change. The bill is the third attempt since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 to introduce a law legalising assisted suicide.
In contrast to the decisive vote in Scotland it is looking increasingly likely that there will be no final vote on similar legislation for England and Wales. Members of the House of Lords have been scrutinising the proposals since autumn 2025 and are unlikely to conclude these deliberations before the parliamentary session ends this spring.
