A clear majority of Scottish MPs voted against assisted suicide during the debate on the UK Parliament’s Assisted Dying Bill yesterday.  

The proposed Bill, which applies only to England and Wales, passed its Second Reading at Westminster by a majority of 330 to 275.

A majority of Scottish MPs voted against the Bill with 29 voting against, 17 for and 11 not voting or abstaining.

Paul Atkin, of the Archdiocesan pro-life office,  said: “Holyrood should not take this vote as support for the Assisted Dying Bill in Scotland - quite the opposite.

"Scottish MPs were intensively lobbied by their constituents and gave the issue deep consideration.

"A majority have been persuaded that assisted suicide is not right for our NHS.”

Bishop John Keenan has reacted to the UK Parliament's decision to pass Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide Bill at second reading.

He said: "This is a sad day for the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled in society.

"Today’s vote strikes a blow against the foundational principle of medicine  'do no harm'.

"Since parliamentarians have voted to create a category of people that the state will help to commit suicide, doctors will now be invited to help their patients to kill themselves.

"As we have seen across the world, once enacted these laws are rapidly and dangerously expanded."

The bill passed its second reading with a vote of 330 to 275.

How they voted