Newly elected MSPs will take part in their first formal meeting at the Scottish Parliament at 9.30am on Thursday 14 May.
All MSPs will start their work in the Parliament by making an oath or affirmation, which must happen before they can take part in any other parliamentary business at Holyrood.
John Swinney MSP, as leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, will be the first to be sworn in, followed by the other party leaders. Other MSPs will be called forward in alphabetical order.
This initial meeting will be chaired by current Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
In the afternoon MSPs will be asked to elect a new Presiding Officer, who will serve for the rest of the new parliamentary session. It is expected that two Deputy Presiding Officers will be elected later in the afternoon.
Ahead of their first meeting in the Chamber, MSPs will have taken part in the first part of an induction programme in the parliament building. The programme aims to welcome MSPs to their roles and will:
allow MSPs to establish a temporary office within the Parliament
help MSPs establish their constituency or regional offices
inform MSPs about what support is available to them to help their constituents
give MSPs information about how to take part in debates and votes in the Chamber
let MSPs know more about the parliamentary roles and responsibilities
Speaking ahead of the MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament, David McGill, the Parliament’s Clerk/Chief Executive, said:“It is great to be able to welcome new MSPs into the Parliament, where our dedicated staff team will be on hand to help them get acquainted with their roles and responsibilities.
“This Parliament’s first formal meeting, on Thursday 14 May, will be particularly significant for those performing their first duties as MSPs, and for those seeking to become Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.
“The first sitting day has an important role in formally introducing MSPs to the public, but the election of the Presiding Officer in particular starts to set the agenda for the session ahead.”
The first sitting day will be able to be view live on the Parliament’s website.
National Theatre of Scotland announces programme for Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the company’s 20th anniversary year
The acclaimed Through the Shortbread Tin, written and performed by Martin O’Connor at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Made in Scotland programme.
One Hundred Voices – a new immersive installation, bringing creative insight into living in the care system, opening at the Scottish Parliament and running during the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics. Part of Caring Scotland, a major project documenting the lives of care experienced people in Scotland.
Marking 20 years of NTS Edinburgh Festival presentations, with 42 productions across the Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival, from Black Watch to Make it Happen.
National Theatre of Scotland presents
Through the Shortbread Tin
Written and performed by Martin O’Connor
Remount directed by Joanna Bowman Original production directed by Lu Kemp
With Josie Duncan and Iona Mairead
Musical Director and Composer – Oliver Searle, Sound and Video Designer – Rob Willoughby, Set and Costume designed by Emma Bailey and Rachel O’Neill, Lighting Designer – Michaella Fee, Gaelic Consultant – Alasdair Whyte
At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from 7 to 31 August at 4.45pm with a preview performance on 6 August 2026.
Opening press performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 7 August 2026 at 4.45pm.
Part of the Made in Scotland Showcase
The story of the greatest literary hoax of all time.
Returning to the stage following a critically acclaimed and award-nominated Scotland-wide tour in 2025, Martin O’Connor’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show, performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, which explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity.
“Fierce, Funny and Challenging” The Scotsman ★★★★
“an entertaining and intelligent investigation into the illusions and inconsistencies of Scottish history, culture and identity.” The Stage ★★★★
“A tartan wrapped gift of a show” The Herald ★★★★
Through the Shortbread Tin will open in Edinburgh at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Made in Scotland Programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Friday 7 August 2026.
Twenty years since the internationally acclaimed production of Black Watch premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Through the Shortbread Tin marks National Theatre of Scotland’s 42 productions at the Edinburgh festivals, including last year’s Edinburgh International Festival sell out success, Make It Happen.
Through the Shortbread Tin is remounted for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe by Joanna Bowman, whose previous productions include the award-winning Tron Theatre Company production of Escaped Alone; Doubt: A Parable (Dundee Rep) and most recently, Sweat (Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh). Joanna won the 2024 CATS Award for Best Director.
In 1760 Scottish poet James Macpherson set the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian. This tartan-trimmed tale of Highland history spread far and wide, capturing the imagination of thousands– but was it built on a deception?
In 2026 Scottish poet Martin O’Connor decides to revisit Macpherson’s epic and begins to question his own relationship with Scottish culture. The sporrans, the stags, the shortbread – do these ‘gift-shop’ images of Scotland hold us back or bring us forward? What does it mean to be authentic, and is the truth sometimes better told in a lie?
Imagine that you were telt tae ignore the myths?
Imagine you didnae know anything about the country you came fae?
But imagine you started askin questions?
Imagine that you could jist replace wan myth wi another?
Martin will be joined on stage by Josie Duncan and Iona Mairead, distinctive Gaelic choral singers, singing original songs composed by Oliver Searle.
Audiences are invited to join Martin and Macpherson on an oral odyssey spanning centuries of Scottish history, exploring the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves.
A tour to sited venues in Scotland in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland will be announced at a later date.
Through the Shortbread Tin was nominated for Best New Play in both the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2025 and the UK Theatre Awards 2025.
Through the Shortbread Tin is part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s 20th birthday programme, marking twenty years of game-changing theatre.
National Theatre of Scotland is delighted to be part of the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 20th anniversary celebrations, as well by being part of their specially curated Festival Fringe programme, the centre piece of their year’s anniversary offering.
BACKGROUND TO OSSIAN
In 1760 Highlander Macpherson published Fragments of Ancient Poetry to great critical and commercial acclaim. The poems were collected from oral sources around Scotland and were presented as the work of a third century bard, Ossian, soon dubbed The Homer of the North. There soon followed two other publications, Fingal and Temora, and together they set the Scottish and European literary world alight. The ‘Ossian effect’ soon saw a rise in interest in Scottish and Highland ways of life and an increase in tourism and cultural interest. The impact of Ossian was immediate and permanent, even if the individual poems eventually fell out of fashion. But soon after publication, debates over Ossian’s aesthetic and moral ‘legitimacy’ surfaced, which plagued the writer and the impact and legacy of the work.
Martin O’Connor is an award-winning theatre-maker, performer and poet from Glasgow. He is interested in exploring ideas of voice and identity through theatre and poetry, with particular interest in Scots, Gaelic and verbatim. Martin won Scots Performer of the Year Award at the Scots Language Awards 2024.
He was granted a Gavin Wallace Fellowship in 2018, hosted by Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and the Lyceum Theatre, marking the first stage in his research into James Macpherson and Ossian.
He makes work for solo performance as well as with, and for, other people. He was the National Theatre of Scotland Writer in Residence in 2020. Previous projects include Turntable (MJ McCarthy/Red Bridge Arts), Mark of the Beast (Martin O’Connor/Platform), Togail Nàisean/ Building a Nation (Glasgow Life).
This remount of Through the Shortbread Tin is directed by Joanna Bowman. Joanna has directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Citizens Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Tron Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Perth Theatre, and Òran Mór. Previous productions include the award-winning Tron Theatre Company production of Escaped Alone, Doubt:A Parable (Dundee Rep) and most recently, Sweat (Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh). She was Associate Director of the Tron Theatre between 2022 and 2025 and is Associate Artist with the Citizens Theatre. Joanna won the 2024 CATS Award for Best Director.
The original production of Through the Shortbread Tin was directed by Lu Kemp, a theatre director and dramaturg with a distinctive reputation for her work in new writing. Lu was Artistic Director of Perth Theatre between 2016 to 2023. Her tenure was notable for supporting the creation of new work by Scottish artists and community engaged productions. As a freelance director, Lu has worked for The Citizens, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Artangel, London, The Tricycle, Almeida and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Josie Duncan is a folk-inspired songwriter and award-winning singer from the Isle of Lewis. Her songs have been showcased worldwide from the Hebridean Celtic Festival Opening Concert to the National Celtic Festival Australia. Josie’s music features in National Theatre of Scotland’s Carry Me Home – A Ferry Tale, an award-winning short film directed by Seth Hardwick.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Dates: Thursday 6 August (Preview); Friday 7 August to Monday 31 August (no shows on Wed 12, Sat 15, Wed 19, Wed 26 August)
One Hundred Voices interactive installation opens at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics 2026 before touring Scotland alongside the Ten Portraits photographic exhibition, as part of Caring Scotland
One Hundred Voices and Ten Portraits at the Scottish Parliament from 12 to 28 August and during the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics 2026 on 27 and 28 August
Then touring across Scotland from 2 September to 10 October 2026: Citizens Theatre, Studio Theatre and exhibition wall; Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries; Millenium Centre, Stranraer; Reid Hall, Forfar; Hall B, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.
A National Theatre of Scotland project in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland, funded with an award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Lead Artist and script by Nicola McCartney
Designer - Karen Tennant, Lighting Designer - Kai Fischer, Sound Design - Niroshini Thambar and Dramaturg - Roxana Cole
Artist Facilitators: Kevin Gilday, Jo Mango, Roxana Cole, Sara Shaarawi and Mal Fraser
Ten Portraits Exhibition Photographer - Chris Scott
Opening in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament and part of the Festival of Politics in August 2026, One Hundred Voices is an interactive installation responding to real life stories of care experienced people.
The stories were recorded for Caring Scotland, a three-year listening project, led by acclaimed playwright Nicola McCartney documenting and recording the lives of care experienced people in Scotland.
One Hundred Voices is created by a leading team of Scottish artists and theatre-makers with design by Karen Tennant, lighting design by Kai Fischer, sound design by Niroshini Thambar, script by Nicola McCartney and dramaturgy by Roxana Cole.
“Good. You’re here. Well, come on in… We understand that for many of you, this journey will be a new experience for you. We want you to feel safe with us.”
The audience is led through the installation by an audio guide. Each room presents an intimate landscape of memory, resilience and imagination, drawn from the lives of one hundred voices from Scotland’s care experienced community. Fragments of stories unfold through sound, light, and space.
This interactive installation transforms oral history into artistic encounters and asks the audience to imagine together a more compassionate Scotland where every child is cherished, every voice amplified, every future honoured. It serves as an artistic act of recognition and celebration of the one hundred testimonies recorded through the Caring Scotland project.
The experience is audio narrated by Scott Kyle and Genna Allan. Both are actors who are also involved in the wider Caring Scotland project. Scott Kyle is one of the Ten Portraits subjects and Genna worked in the project team during the story collection phase. Both are care experienced.
The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics takes place in the home of Scottish politics on 27 and 28 August; and will feature over 30 events tackling some of the big political, cultural and social issues of the day.
Ten Portraits exhibition, by Caring Scotland photographer in residence Chris Scott, opened at Inverness Museum on 05 May ahead of touring to Shetland, Aberdeen and Edinburgh as well as touring alongside the One Hundred Voices installation at the Scottish Parliament and beyond.
The Sound Collection –a collection of stories forms part of the audio archive of the National Library of Scotland with short excerpts also available on the NTS website.
The Sound Collectionextracts can be listened to here.
Supported by The Weir Charitable Trust and The Rayne Foundation
The Sound Collection, Ten Portraits and One Hundred Voices are the public culmination of Caring Scotland, a three-year listening project led and inspired by the practice of playwright and socially engaged theatre-maker, Nicola McCartney, documenting the lives of care experienced people in Scotland since 2024.
The project is a unique partnership between National Theatre of Scotland, Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland and is funded with an award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Ten Portraits is a touring photographic exhibition of photographs captured by Chris Scott, inspired and informed by the Caring Scotland listening project. Chris is a Scottish photographer with a care experienced background, whose style is contemporary with a dramatic and atmospheric feel. Chris’s unobtrusive photography style captures the essence and personality of the people he photographs. He has taken individual portraiture photographs of ten of the personal story contributors during the project.
The Sound Collection – all stories gathered from the listening project have been safely deposited in a new Caring Scotland oral history audio archive, housed in perpetuity at the National Library of Scotland for public access as well as excerpts being made available online via the NTS website.
A team of multi-disciplinary artists worked with Nicola on the research into Caring Scotland. Artists Kevin Gilday (poet), Jo Mango (musician & songwriter), Roxana Cole (director) and Mal Fraser (filmmaker) and Sara Shaarawi (playwright), engaging with care experienced people from across Scotland, collecting their stories for this unprecedented oral history audio archive.
Lead artist, Nicola McCartney, has worked on many artistic projects with the care experienced community, and has worked within the system as a member of the Children’s Panel and a foster parent.
Caring Scotland is a continuation of her creative practice and her ongoing research into the care system in Scotland. Previously, in 2021, Nicola was commissioned by National Theatre of Scotland to create Holding/Holding On as part of their Care in Contemporary Scotland – A Creative Enquiry programme.
Nicola’s practice of active listening enables participants to take control of their narratives. Caring Scotland empowers the care experienced community by offering members a platform for their voices to be heard by the people of Scotland.
Nicola McCartney, lead artist, said: “It has been an honour and a challenge to lead such a large project, documenting the lives of Care Experienced people in Scotland in their own words.
“We look forward to now sharing these stories with the nation in many different and innovative ways. The testimonies we have listened to of how the Care system has impacted on people’s lives are a vital and often overlooked part of what Scotland’s story was, is now and what we can become.”
With The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support, the project has been open to all members of the care experienced community across Scotland to contribute to and take part in.
One Hundred Voices and Ten Portraits at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Wed 12 to Fri 28 August 26; Festival of Politics, Thu 27 to Fri 28 August 26 then touring to
Citizens Theatre, Studio Theatre and exhibition wall, Wed 2 to Sat 12 September 26;
Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, Thu 17 to Sat 19 September 26;
Millenium Centre, Stranraer, Thu 24 to Sat 26 September 26;
Reid Hall, Forfar Thu 1 to Sat 3 October 26;
Hall B, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Thu 8 to Sat 10 October 26.
Tickets are Pay What You Decide pricing.
Ten Portraits touring to Inverness Museum, Tue 5 to Fri 29 May 26;
Mareel, Shetland, Tue 2 to Fri 26 June 26;
Aberdeen Music Hall Gallery Space, Wed 1 to Fri 31 July 26;
Gallery Space, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Sat 10 to Friday 30 October;
Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, presented with Tonic Arts, Sun 1 November 26 to Sat 27 February 27.
More details on the Caring Scotland project can be found here.
As his term as a Member of the Scottish Parliament comes to a close, Foysol Choudhury reflects on five years of representing the people of the Lothians, highlighting key achievements and defining issues during his time in office.
Since being elected in 2021, Foysol Choudhury has worked to address the most pressing concerns facing constituents, including NHS waiting times and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He has concluded thousands of constituency cases, the majority of which relate to health, housing, and civil law and rights.
Many of these cases involve highly complex issues that Mr. Choudhury has supported his constituents with over several years.
Healthcare has remained a central focus of his work. Choudhury consistently advocated for improved access to GP services, reduced waiting times, and increased funding for diabetes treatment and brain tumour research. His work in this area contributed to progress in diabetes care and earned recognition through a Holyrood Awards nomination.
In 2025, he led the Parliament’s first Members’ Business debate on access to medical devices, placing patient experience at the forefront of policy discussions and pushing for improved access to essential treatments.
Beyond healthcare, Mr Choudhury supported communities on a wide range of local issues. He campaigned against unsafe housing conditions such as damp and mould, helped residents in Westfield Court pause demolition plans, and worked with communities in Eyre Place Lane to challenge over-scaled developments.
His work also covered infrastructure and local services, where he applied sustained pressure to progress projects such as the Winchburgh train station, supported South Queensferry residents seeking improved access to new housing via Ferrymuir Gait Road, and advocated for the revitalisation of Drylaw Shopping Centre.
He further pressed for faster progress on a new East Calder Health Centre and challenged cuts to health, social care, and community funding, warning of their impact on vulnerable communities.
As the first Bangladeshi Member of the Scottish Parliament, Foysol Choudhury worked to bring issues of racism and inequality to parliamentary debate. He called for stronger action to tackle racism, greater clarity on resources for schools, and supported efforts to promote a more inclusive curriculum reflecting Scotland’s diversity.
Foysol Choudhury also played a key role in advancing a petition on swimming provision, backing his constituent’s campaign and calling for a consistent national approach to ensure all children can swim by the end of primary school, emphasising it as a vital, life-saving skill.
Reflecting on his time in office, Foysol Choudhury said:“It has been a true privilege to represent the people of the Lothians. I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me, shared their stories, and allowed me to champion their causes.
“This work would not have been possible without the dedication, care, and tireless efforts of so many: my team, colleagues, organisations, and communities driving change. My sincere thanks to you all.“
Issues faced by neurodivergent people must be urgently addressed, says Holyrood committee
Challenges faced by people with neurodivergence should be addressed “without delay” according to MSPs on Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
The Committee launched the inquiry after the delay to the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill. Having held formal and informal sessions in light of this delay, the Committee agreed to focus on the challenges facing neurodivergent people in education, work and the criminal justice system
Throughout the inquiry the Committee heard about the importance of, and difficulty of getting, a diagnosis of a neurodivergent condition.
Dr Jim Crabb from the Royal College of Psychiatrists told the Committee that “[A] diagnosis can be incredibly powerful and validating; for some people, it can be life saving”, while Karbie Brook, from ARGH Scotland, told MSPs that prior to diagnosis: “I simply thought that I was a broken human, that I was no good at being human and that I did not really deserve to be here because what use was I anyway.”
The Committee also heard that, in some situations, delays to diagnosis had led to people taking their own lives and concludes that this situation is “completely unacceptable”.
In its report, the Committee warns that, with 43 percent of children in Scottish schools having an additional support need, action must be taken so that neurodivergence is not seen as a deficit.
The Committee says that it is essential for young people to receive a diagnosis early in life and calls for the Government to ensure that there is a long-term strategy and funding to ensure that Scotland has the workforce needed to be able to respond to the demand for diagnoses.
The report also explores the implementation gap between Scottish Government policies and the lived experience of witnesses. The Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing told the Committee that the Government was now recalibrating systems due to an unforeseen increase in demand.
While the Committee welcomes this, it urges the Government to speak to people with lived experience to ensure services meet the needs of neurodivergent people.
"For neurodivergent people, we want Scotland to be a welcoming place, but also a place that uplifts, that supports and ensures that they can thrive in whatever they want to do…"
— Equalities, Human Rights & Civil Justice Committee (@SP_EHRCJ) March 20, 2026
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee said:“Some of the testimony that we heard during this inquiry was devastating and, as we say in our report, as a country we cannot carry on like this.
“Our inquiry has found that we must fundamentally change as a society. The Scottish Government must act urgently so that our public services understand distress, communication and difference properly, so that we can intervene early, reduce harm, and support better outcomes across education, health, employment and justice.
“I am also grateful to all those we heard from during our inquiry. We repeatedly heard about the barriers, stigma and discrimination faced by neurodivergent people, but having their views on the record shone a light on the scale of the problem.”
Debbi McCulloch, Chief Executive Officer of the Spartans Community Foundation, gave evidence in the Parliament yesterday, where she spoke extensively to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee about the Foundation’s work in Pilton and the wider community.
During the evidence session Ms McCulloch said that North Edinburgh has fantastic networks and collaboration, referring to R2 and that network’s ability to signpost and help individuals and directly help individuals who might otherwise be missed:
Ms McCulloch said that 94% of young people surveyed by the Spartans said that they felt like they had a trusted adult at the foundation.
"It gives people a chance and a place where they can feel safe and they can feel that they ultimately belong to something that can give them hope." – Debbi McCulloch, @Spartans_CF at our meeting on community sporting initiatives for young people: https://t.co/ep3Vl7OxoSpic.twitter.com/t4GZGQ8DAz
— Education, Children and Young People Committee (@SP_ECYP) March 19, 2026
She says the Foundation’s work has increased employment and volunteering opportunities and has provided families with a place where they can come and be listened to in a dignified way:
Ms McCulloch also gave examples of the impact of the Foundation’s work, referring to Naomi Hume, who is now the Assistant Operations Manager, who started off attending the Foundation’s Street Football offering:
A thorough independent review of how UK Government departments and civil servants interact with devolution should be carried out in order to improve the way Westminster works with governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to a new report from a Scottish Parliament Committee.
The report from the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee says interactions between the UK Government and those in devolved nations should be less ad-hoc with a formal, structured and transparent schedule published in advance.
The publication reports “significant concern” around the understanding of the powers and role of the devolved governments and parliaments within Whitehall, and as a result, it says there appears to be a lack of thought in some cases about how devolution affects the development of policy by the UK Government and passage of legislation at the UK Parliament.
The new report was supported by four members – Committee Convener Clare Adamson MSP, Keith Brown MSP, George Adam MSP and Patrick Harvie MSP. Neil Bibby MSP, Stephen Kerr MSP and Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP dissented from the report.
The publication follows the Committee’s inquiry on the transparency of intergovernmental activity – the interaction and cooperation between central and devolved governments – and its implications for parliamentary scrutiny and Ministerial accountability.
As part of its work, Committee members held a number of informal meetings in London with UK Government Ministers, Cabinet Office officials and parliamentary committees in the House of Lords and House of Commons. Its recommendations were also informed by previous work and reports including on the UK Internal Market Act.
The report describes it as “striking” that a majority of Common Frameworks have yet to be agreed by the Scottish Government, more than eight years after an initial agreement on their principles. Common Frameworks are the agreed approaches between the UK Government and the devolved administrations to manage regulatory consistency in specific areas including food safety, environmental standards and agriculture, following the UK’s exit from the EU.
The report notes the example of the UK Internal Market Act (UKIMA), where although the Scottish Parliament voted twice by division to repeal UKIMA, the possibility of repeal was not considered as part of the UK Government’s review of the Act.
It concludes that it is “unclear” how further progress can be made in agreeing Common Frameworks in policy areas impacted by UKIMA, which undermines certainty and trust among businesses and hinders ministerial accountability and parliamentary scrutiny.
Committee Convener, Clare Adamson, said: “There continues to be a number of ongoing challenges which are undermining effective intergovernmental relations.
“The Committee’s view is that the resetting of intergovernmental of relations should include improving the effectiveness of engagement between governments and parliaments in the devolved nations.”
The result of the Stage 3 vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is:
Yes – 57
No – 69
Abstain – 1
The Bill therefore falls.
Campaign group Dignity in Dying said late last night: “Moments ago, the Scottish Parliament voted against Liam McArthur MSP’s assisted dying Bill, by 69 to 57 with one abstention.
“This means that the Bill will fall and we will have to keep fighting for law change in Scotland.
“We pay tribute to Liam McArthur MSP for acting with integrity and determination, and to the thousands of supporters who have been fighting hard for choice, especially the many terminally ill people and their loved ones who have spoken courageously about their experiences.
“The fight is not over. Thousands of people all over the country have been campaigning for this change, and that work will not stop. Today’s result only hardens our resolve to keep fighting for a safer and more compassionate law.”
Ash Regan MSP said: “The Assisted Dying Bill has fallen – but this debate must leave a legacy from session 6. We urgently need fully funded, high-quality palliative care for everyone, when they need it.
“We must ensure that those with disabilities are supported with necessary accommodations to fully access public life and be secure at home. Invest in research. Listen to experts.
“Free votes strengthen Parliament. And once again, the limits of devolution for legislation that straddles devolved and reserved matters are laid bare. We must learn and do better for the people of Scotland.”
Foysol Choudhury said: “Yesterday in Parliament, I voted against the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
“The issue of assisted dying raises a lot of emotions and as you can imagine, this was a very difficult decision to make.
“I would like to express my sympathy to Liam McArthur MSP who I know worked tirelessly and with great determination on this proposed Bill.
“Thank you to the many hundreds of constituents who have written to me over the years regarding this Bill, and who have shared their thoughts, concerns and personal experiences.
“Since my election in 2021, I have engaged extensively with many of you, as well as with organisations, doctors, nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, academics, on this important issue.
“While I have carefully listened to all sides of the debate, I ultimately voted against the Bill due to my serious concerns about safeguards and undue pressure on terminally ill people to end their lives as to not burden their families.
“The risk of coercion – particularly for vulnerable groups, including disabled people – is extremely difficult to detect. Many constituents and disability organisations have highlighted fears that the Bill could unintentionally devalue their lives.
“At Stage 3, I remained unconvinced that the Bill could fully guarantee protection against these risks. In my view, it still contains significant flaws and weaknesses.
“I strongly believe we must prioritise a robust healthcare system that delivers world-class, compassionate, and accessible palliative care for all.
“I do not believe that the answer to suffering lies in prematurely ending life. Every life has inherent value, and we must show our future generations that life is precious, must be protected and cared for in the best way possible.”
An official Notice of Election was published yesterday (March 16), marking the start of the formal process of the Scottish Parliament election, which will take place on May 7.
Nominations open today (March 17) for candidates wanting to stand in this election. Nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, must be submitted by 4pm on Wednesday April 1.
People aged 16 and over can vote in this election. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April, to apply for a postal vote it’s 5pm on Tuesday 21 April, and for a proxy vote it’s 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.
The Edinburgh count will return 13 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Six are constituency MSPs and seven are from the regional list for Edinburgh and Lothians East.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said:“I would urge everyone to make sure they are registered to vote in this election. If you’ll be on holiday, busy on polling day or would simply prefer to get it done in advance, you have until 21 April to apply for a postal vote. You could also appoint someone you trust – a proxy – to cast your vote for you.
“This election will chart the course of the country’s future and it’s vital that you make your voice heard.
“Here in Edinburgh our teams are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”
MSP’s hold pictures of deceased constituents in support of the Dignity In Dying charity in the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh.
12 March 2026.
A group of cross party MSPs united yesterday to support Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill ahead of its final vote on Tuesday 17th March.
The MSPs have issued a letter to their Parliamentary colleagues urging them to keep the voices and experiences of those most affected by this issue front of mind and to vote in favour of Bill.
The MSPs joined a photocall in support of the Bill carrying photos of terminally ill Scots and those who died a bad death and wished for the law to change.
In the letter they say that:
“On many issues that come before us in Parliament we differ in opinion, but when it comes to extending compassion and safety to dying people we are united in our support for dignity and choice.
‘Over the last few years, we have each heard from constituents across Scotland about the heavy toll the ban on assisted dying has taken on them and the urgent need for the law to change.
‘We have heard from a mother who watched her son beg to die when the pain caused by his endocrine cancer became too much to bear, from a daughter who watched her mum starve and dehydrate to death over the course of 18 long days when she reached the limit of MND, from a widow who returned home to Scotland alone after accompanying her dying husband to Switzerland to face a police interview, from dying people considering how best to take matters into their own hands should their suffering become unbearable and many more people with terminal illness consumed by the fear of a protracted and painful death.
‘While all the experiences they shared were different in nature, there was one constant – that in each and every case a safe and compassionate assisted dying law would have lessened their pain and made both living with a terminal diagnosis and loss that bit more bearable.
‘In every constituency there are stories like these – real people enduring real suffering. In every single constituency the voting public support changing the law on assisted dying.
‘The Bill that is in front of us has been through rigorous scrutiny, is robustly evidenced and puts in place a range of protections that simply do not exist at the moment. It will make assisted dying the most safeguarded end of life option. 300 million people around the world already have access to some form of assisted dying. There is no evidence of abuse of these laws and extensive evidence to show that they address the failings created by a blanket ban on assisted dying.
‘The current situation can not continue – it is demonstrably cruel, dangerous and ineffective. It denies dying people choice and fails to protect anyone. By contrast Liam McArthur MSP’s Bill will create new protections for people at end of life and offers this Parliament the opportunity to put in place a safe, regulated framework that will work alongside palliative care to provide choice and compassion when people need it most.
‘This issue is not going away, banning assisted dying does not stop assisted dying, it merely drives it overseas, underground and behind closed doors. As such, voting against this bill has serious consequences, leaving dying Scots more at risk, isolated and vulnerable.
”We urge you to keep the voices and experiences of those most affected by this issue front of mind and to vote in favour of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Scotland Bill on the 17th March.”
The letter has been signed by MSPs from each of the main political parties represented in Parliament. Signatories include:
George Adam MSP, Karen Adam MSP, Jackson Carlaw MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Jackie Dunbar MSP, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Rachael Hamilton MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, Monica Lennon MSP, Richard Lochhead MSP, Douglas Lumsden MSP, Rona Mackay MSP, Paul McLennan MSP, Carol Mochan MSP, Lorna Slater MSP, David Torrance MSP, Evelyn Tweed MSP, Elena Whitham MSP.
Maggie Chapman MSP, Gordon MacDonald MSP and Gillian Mackay MSP joined the photocall.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL DEMO
EDINBURGH
Sat 18th April
1pm
