Church of Scotland to take neutral stance on Scottish assisted dying bill

Holyrood’s assisted dying bill has been tabled by the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Campaigners in favour of assisted dying have welcomed moves by Scotland’s largest church to take a neutral stance on a new bill to legalise the practice.

Members of the Scottish parliament are to hold their first vote next Tuesday on a private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, after months of assessment by a backbench committee.