John Swinney to vote against assisted dying proposals

John Swinney will vote against plans to introduce assisted dying provisions in Scotland.

The bill, brought forward by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, is to be debated for the first time on Tuesday.

All MSPs have been given a free vote on the matter – meaning they will not be whipped along party lines.

Confirming his decision on Thursday, the first minister said: “I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot support the bill and will be voting against it on Tuesday.”

He explained he believes the legislation would “fundamentally alter the relationship between patients and clinicians” which would “undermine” the role of medical professionals.

He also expressed concern that the most vulnerable people on society might opt for assisted dying because they feel like they are burdening loved ones or the NHS, and also that he is not “sufficiently confident” that the provisions would not go beyond what is currently proposed.

The bill, if passed, would make it legal for those with terminal conditions to choose to end their lives.

Advocates of the bill say this choice will allow people to die on their own terms and minimise suffering.

But opponents have warned about coercion, undue pressure on individuals, and the danger of eligibility being extended after its passage to cover a wider group of people.

Swinney said he had found the decision “incredibly difficult”. Acknowledging he had voted against previous attempts to legalise assisted dying, he said he previously both disagreed with the purpose of the bill and the details of that legislation.

He said this was a “much better bill” than its predecessors and he paid “enormous tribute” to McArthur for this. He also praised the “outstanding service” of the parliament’s health committee, which has been scrutinising the proposals at stage one.

Asked whether his religious beliefs had swayed his decision, the first minister said he “can’t disassociate my faith from who I am” but he had tried to approach the issue in a way people would expect of a parliamentarian.

He also acknowledged the role his wife Elizabeth, who has multiple sclerosis and with whom he has discussed the bill, played in the decision, saying: “I couldn’t contemplate having a conversation about the question of assisted dying with my wife, knowing the health challenges that she faces and the fact that, as you all know, she has a terminal illness. I could not contemplate that conversation.”

His decision means both he and deputy first minister Kate Forbes will vote against the bill.

Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar is also expected to vote against it due to concerns about insufficient safeguards.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said earlier this year that, while instinctually he was in favour of assisted dying, he was “a lot more cautious” now the bill was in front of parliament.

Responding to Swinney’s announcement, McArthur thanked him for his “considered approach”.

He added: “Ahead of the stage one vote next Tuesday, I would urge my colleagues to listen to the voices of terminally ill Scots desperate for more choice, control and dignity and I would urge them to take account of the experience of so many people across Scotland who have witnessed the harrowing deaths of friends and loved ones, often despite the very best efforts of palliative care.”