Scotland's assisted suicide vote: 'A victory for the vulnerable'

James Mildred  |  Comment
Date posted:  18 Mar 2026
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Scotland's assisted suicide vote: 'A victory for the vulnerable'

Scottish Parliament Building, Holyrood. Source: Wikimedia Commons

I spent yesterday evening watching the Scottish Parliament debate assisted suicide. It was a Stage Three debate, which is the final time MSPs debate legislation and also the last time they vote.

Going into the debate, we needed at least seven MSPs to switch from their Stage One vote and we needed to ensure no-one went the other way. It was absolutely on a knife edge.

Colleagues sat in the public gallery and one told me the atmosphere was eerie and strange. There was a palpable heaviness in the air. Impassioned speeches came from both sides.

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