We must listen to assisted dying debate

THE assisted dying debate shows attitudes are changing The issue is an area reserved to the Scottish Parliament and I’m glad there’s a Bill being proposed by the Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, left. Last Monday, after receiving many emails from constituents, I went along to share some of their views in the Westminster Hall Petitions committee debate.

It was incredibly moving to hear MPs from around the UK share both their own personal experiences of family members with terminal illness and those of their constituents.

The testimonies from MPs were heartbreaking, particularly from Labour MP Paul Blomfield, whose father took his own life. I’m grateful to my constituents, many of whom shared with me the distress they felt at seeing the pain and suffering of their loved ones. I was also contacted by those who oppose assisted dying and I fully respect those views.

What struck me was many of those speaking in the debate had changed their minds in favour of assisted dying over time, either through experiences shared by constituents or by events in their own life. It’s difficult to separate out the political from the personal on issues such as assisted dying; what is important is listening and acting on the evidence.

There’s no timetable for the UK Parliament to bring forward legislation; I wish my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament all the best in their deliberations.