it's been drawn up by the liberal democrat msp, liam mcarthur, who says it would ease suffering.the bill is likely to be debated this autumn and potentially voted on next year. earlier i spoke to bbc scotland's political editor, david henderson, and asked him about the background of this legislation. it's come about because right now, helping someone to take their own life is a crime and it's punishable by up to ia years in prison. and campaigners say that is profoundly unjust, because it means that people suffer in the final phase of their life and they're unable to choose the way they die, when they die, where they die. so that's why today liam mcarthur, a liberal democrat msp, has has brought legislation to the scottish parliament to try to change the law. it would allow assisted dying on the nhs in certain limited circumstances. opponents, of course, warn that there are major problems with it. all sorts of concerns about what this means for people with disabilities and mental health. but supporters here say that the mood has changed, that there's broader public support for th

liam mcarthur of the liberal democrats who brought this bill forward is stressing the safeguards and capable mentally of making that decision. they talk about this 14—day waiting period, and of course the patient themselves has to administer the drug. the other self guard —— safeguard a highlight is that the patient has to live in scotland for at least 12 months before making the decision, so that is not in switzerland where people can fly from the uk to switzerland to a dignitas clinic to claim their own life. they will have to live here before they can make that decision. david, thank you. bbc scotland's political editor. maundy thursday is a major fixture on the royal calendar, normally the monarch, who is the head of the church of england, presents special coins to people recognised for their community service. this time, king charles won't be there because of his cancer treatment. but he's recorded a message praising those who "extend the hand of friendship, especially in a time of need". graham satchell reports. a new picture of king charles, taken at buckingham palace by a roy

that's why liam mcarthur is introducing a bill here at the scottish parliament which would allow some request assistance to end their life. well, the terminal illness would need to be advanced and progressive. it would require the diagnosis not just of one but of two medics, who would also assess capacity, would discuss with the patient the reasons why they'd arrived at that decision, to ensure that there hasn't been undue coercion or pressure applied. so how's your day been today? audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. having been here and feeling the way it scoops you up and it does, you know... and feeling the care and the expertise, the skills of people. and now, i mean, that may change, but now, i'm not afraid of dying. so you think there might not really be a need for this legislation if we as a society, improved end—of—life care? yes, yeah. in a very holistic sense, yes. many doctors who specialise in palliative care also have concerns about the bill. the worry is th

now, liam mcarthur of the liberal democrats who brought this bill forward, is stressing the safeguards. he says that doctors have to be involved to make sure that people who want to make that decision, that they are capable mentally of making that decision. they talk about this 1a day waiting period and of course the patient themselves has to administer the drug. the other safeguard they highlight is that the patient has to live in scotland for at least 12 months before they can make the decision. so this will not be like a situation that we have in switzerland, where people can fly from the uk to switzerland to a dignitas clinic to claim their own life. they'll have to live here before they can make that decision. that was bbc scotland's political editor david henderson. the uk labour party leader sir keir starmer has launched his party's local election campaign, the elections take place on 2nd may. sir keir said the country wants change and the path to change, he says, starts now. here's some of what he said to local party leaders in dudley. it is great to be here in dudley to launch

liam mcarthur is the liberal democrat whose proposal could help some terminally ill patients end their illness would need to be advanced and progressive. it would require the diagnosis not just of one but of two medics, who would also assess capacity, who would discuss with the patient the reasons why they had arrived at that decision, to ensure that there hasn't been undue coercion or pressure applied. so how's your day been today? audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. having being here and feeling the way it scoops you up, and it does, you know, and feeling the care and the expertise, the skills of the people, and now, i mean, that may change, but now i'm not afraid of dying. so you think there might not really be a need for this legislation, if we as a society improved end—of—life care? yes. yeah — in a very holistic sense, yeah. many doctors who specialise in palliative care also have concerns about the bill. as a palliative care doctor, when i see patients who are suff

that's why liam mcarthur is introducing a bill here at the scottish parliament which would allow somenced and progressive. it would require the diagnosis not just of one but of two medics, who would also assess capacity, would discuss with the patient the reasons why they'd arrived at that decision, to ensure that there hasn't been undue coercion or pressure applied. so, how's your day been today? audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. having been here and feeling the way it scoops you up and it does, you know... and feeling the care and the expertise, the skills of people. and now, i mean, that may change, but now, i'm not afraid of dying. so you think there might not really be a need for this legislation if we, as a society, improved end—of—life care? yes, yeah. in a very holistic sense, yes. many doctors who specialise in palliative care also have concerns about the bill. the worry is that it's notjust a choice — l it becomes a suggestion, _ which then becomes an expecta

liam mcarthur is the liberal democrat whose proposal could help some terminally ill patients end theirinal illness would need to be advanced and progressive. it would require the diagnosis not just of one but of two medics, who would also assess capacity, who would discuss with the patient the reasons why they had arrived at that decision, to ensure that there hasn't been undue coercion or pressure applied. so, how's your day been today? audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. having being here and feeling the way it scoops you up, and it does, you know, and feeling the care and the expertise, the skills of the people, and now, i mean, that may change, but now i'm not afraid of dying. so, you think there might not really be a need for this legislation, if we as a society improved end—of—life care? yes. yeah — in a very holistic sense, yeah. many doctors who specialise in palliative care also have concerns about the bill. as a palliative care doctor, when i see patients who ar

liam mcarthur is introducing a bill at the scottish parliament which would provide some patients withk it allows a position for doctors to care for their patients. you cannot cure a terminal illness. and in a sense, what you need to do is provide as much care and support and as compassionate a way you can. so how's your day been today? yes. yeah, it's good. it's always good to come here. audrey has terminal cancer, but she does not want the option of an assisted death. instead, she has found comfort at st columba's hospice in edinburgh. thisjust helps with having been here and feeling - the way it scoops you up. and it does, you know, and feeling the care and the expertise, - the skills of people. and now, i mean, that may change, i but now i'm not afraid of dying. . but i wonder if everyone had the facilities like - we are in at the moment, would it feel as important. you know, so you think there might not really be a need for this legislation if we, as a society, improved end of life care? yes. yeah. in a very holistic sense. yeah. so palliative care is all about improving the quali