Supporters of Scotland's assisted dying bill frustrated by lack of backing from Labour MSPs

"Only three of Scottish Labour's 20 MSPs supported the bill, with three switching from yes to no. In contrast, a significant majority of Labour MPs backed the assisted dying bill for England and Wales last year. At its final Commons reading in June, 224 Labour MPs voted for Kim Leadbeater's bill and 160 opposed it."

"At Holyrood, the bill was supported by 63% of the 59 Scottish National party MSPs who voted and 21% of the 28 Scottish Conservative MSPs, leaving Labour as the most critical of all the parties, with only 15% of its members backing it."

"A Liberal Democrat source acknowledged that opposition from SNP and Tory backbenchers played a large part in the bill's defeat but added: It seems a little bit odd when in the House of Commons Labour MPs overwhelmingly backed this, but they've been more conservative here."

Scotland's assisted dying bill was defeated in a late-night free vote at Holyrood on Tuesday, marking the end of a five-year effort. The bill lost by a larger-than-expected 12-vote margin. Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who championed the measure, stated he would not reintroduce it after the May election. Scottish Labour proved most critical of the proposal, with only 15% of its 20 MSPs supporting it—three switched from yes to no. This contrasts sharply with Westminster, where 224 Labour MPs backed Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill for England and Wales. The Scottish National Party supported the bill at 63%, while Scottish Conservatives backed it at 21%. Supporters expressed frustration at Labour's inconsistent position between parliaments.

Read at www.theguardian.com