Assisted dying is really a matter for whole UK to decide

TOMORROW, Holyrood will vote for a third time on a bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland. The previous two attempts were defeated resoundingly - by 85 votes to 16 in 2010 and by 82 votes to 36 in 2015.

- Ben Borland Scottish Express Editor

Both were brought by Margo Macdonald, although Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie took forward the latter bill after her death.

The redoubtable Margo, who had Parkinson's disease, once said: "I came to the conclusion that only one person is responsible for any life."

The independent Lothians MSP died in April 2014, aged 70, years after expressing the view that Holyrood was "trailing behind public opinion".

Now, more than a decade later, it may be about to catch up. The Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says 78% of Scots now support assisted dying.

His bill has a far better chance of passing the stage 1 vote tomorrow, despite both John Swinney and Anas Sarwar saying they will vote against.

A SURVEY of MSPs by the Sunday Herald suggests the Assisted Dying for Terminally Adults (Scotland) Bill will go through by a narrow margin. If it does, then more detailed scrutiny will be carried out and other MSPs will be able to put forward amendments, ahead of a final vote at Holyrood before it could become law.