Liam McArthur signing a pledge card in support of his Assisted Dying Bill Get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice More than three-quarters of Scots are in favour of assisted dying legislation, a major poll has found. A survey by campaign group Dignity in Dying found at least a two-thirds majority in every constituency in
Scotland, with a 78 per ent average overall support. It comes as the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill is published in the Scottish Parliament today. The proposals, put forward by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur , would enable mentally competent adults with a terminal illness to be legally provided with assistance to end their lives if they wish to do so. The poll, conducted for campaigners by Opinium, surveyed 4,132 Scottish adults between February 9 and March 15. It showed 15 per cent of respondents were against the proposals. Support was joint highest in the Orkney constituency, with 82 per cent in favour, alongside Shetland. Significant support was also found in North East Fife and Banff and Buchan at 80 per cent, while Moray, mid Fife, Inverness and Nairn reported 79 per cent support. Read More Related Articles Scots neighbourhoods could become rent control areas under 'progressive' housing reforms, says Patrick Harvie Read More Related Articles Michael Matheson says he won't resign as an MSP despite
BREAKING Holyrood rules Opponents of the proposals state the poll does not reflect the change in attitudes to assisted dying once the dangers are highlighted. Scottish Parliament constituencies across Glasgow had the lowest level of support, with Glasgow Shettleston recording 66 per cent. Humza Yousaf’s Glasgow Pollok constituency was also among the lowest, at 67 per cent, equalling support in his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon’s Glasgow Southside seat. Scottish
Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s Glasgow region had 69 per cent support for the Bill, according to the poll. Both Yousaf and Sarwar have expressed concerns about the Bill. McArthur said: “It has been clear for many years that an overwhelming majority of the public support a change in the law to allow more choice for dying people at the end of life. “This latest polling certainly underscores that, while also confirming that this support is to be found right across the country. “It is increasingly clear that the current ban on assisted dying is failing too many dying Scots at the end of life, despite the very best efforts of palliative care. “Too often, it leaves patients facing difficult and traumatic deaths that impact not just them, but those they leave behind. We can and must do better. “In keeping with similar laws we see operating successfully in the US, Australia and
New Zealand, my proposals would be robustly safeguarded to ensure the process works as intended." Scottish politics Health boards blow millions on taxis Labour conference braced for
protests SNP lost thousands of members in 2023 Matheson urged to reject pay-out Speaking his concerns over the bill, Sarwar previously told the Record: "I'm yet to be convinced this is the right approach. I'm struck by my colleague Pam Duncan-Glancy , the first MSP to be a permanent wheelchair user, who argues we actually need to give people a right to live, not just the right to die. "For many people across the country, particularly those with disabilities, they don't feel they have that right to live." Sarwar added: "It will be a free vote, it will be a conscience vote, but I'm not currently minded to support it." To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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