New polling confirms support for assisted dying in every constituency in Scotland 

Speaking after he met terminally ill Scots outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday morning, Liam McArthur MSP has today said that parliamentarians should listen to the public and back his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults bill with new constituency-level polling showing consistent, high levels of support for assisted dying is published.

 MRP analysis of new polling confirms that every constituency and region in the country supports assisted dying, with support soaring to 80% in Moray and Argyll and Bute, and 87% in Banffshire and Buchan Coast.  

The polling also shows strong support for law change in all five party leaders’ constituencies, including 77% support in John Swinney’s constituency of Perthshire North, 73% in Alex Cole-Hamilton’s Edinburgh Western constituency, 72% in Glasgow, Anas Sarwar’s region, 70% in Green co-leader Ross Greer and Conservative leader Russell Findlay’s region of West Scotland and 69% in Green co-leader Gillian Mackay’s region of Central Scotland.

This news comes as three terminally ill Scottish women took to plinths erected outside the Scottish Parliament to form living statues to honour the people the current blanket ban on assisted dying affects most, and show them standing together, demonstrating that the will of the people in Scotland is unwavering.

Liam McArthur said:

“Assisted dying is the overwhelming will of the Scottish people. This poll simply confirms what we have seen over many years and sends the most emphatic message to MSPs that a change in the law to allow dying Scots more choice must now be delivered.

“My bill has been almost five years in the making. Over that time, it has drawn record levels of public consultation, engagement with stakeholders as well as tough parliamentary scrutiny.

"It’s clear that a majority of MSPs recognise the need for change. I urge them to have the courage of their convictions and back my heavily safeguarded bill, ensuring Scotland follows countries like Australia and New Zealand in introducing more choice, compassion and dignity for dying Scots who desperately need it.”