DYING WISHES

>> Callaghan says she'd struggle to abstain in vote >> But disabled politician's view slated by opponents

- PAUL HUTCHEON

A DISABLED former SNP MP says she would have struggled to "sit on my hands" during the vote on assisted dying at Westminster.

Amy Callaghan, who is "resolute" in her support for assisted dying, spoke out after her party's MPs abstained in the historic vote.

She said she hopes Holyrood follows suit by backing similar legislation.

Assisted dying moved a step closer to being legalised in England and Wales after legislation cleared the first hurdle in Parliament last week.

In a free vote, a majority of MPs, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, supported Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's Bill that would allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives early.

The major change was backed by MPs despite fierce opposition from campaign groups including disability organisations.

They claim vulnerable people could be coerced and insist the legislation will lead to a "slippery slope" of further liberalisation.

Callaghan, the SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire until July, lives with disability after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2020.

In an article for the Daily Record she addressed SNP MPs' abstentions on the grounds the Bill does not affect Scots.