I was a Coward to vote against assisted dying'

Top Tory backs call

- Giles Sheldrick

RUTH Davidson is backing the Daily Express crusade for urgent reform to assisted dying laws, saying she was a "coward" to ever vote against changing the ban.

The former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party said her decision in 2015 has haunted her ever since and she has vowed not to make the same mistake again.

Last night she urged politicians from all parties to acknowledge the strength of feeling on the issue.

As part of our Give Us Our Last Rights crusade, the Express petition demands a full Commons debate on legalising assisted dying with a free vote for MPs.

Baroness Davidson, 45, said: "I've happily signed and I encourage fellow politicians to step up to the plate.

"I have thought more and more what I did was a coward's way out. It is now time to change the law to help people have a better death."

We are campaigning with terminally ill TV star Dame Esther Rantzen, 83, and charity Dignity in Dying to change laws that stop the seriously sick from taking control of their death. Assisted dying can currently be prosecuted as murder manslaughter under the or Coroners and Justice Act 2009.