MSP behind Scots assisted suicide Bill received almost £50k from activists

The author of Scotland’s assisted suicide Bill has accepted tens of thousands of pounds from activist groups campaigning for end of life protections to be axed, it has been revealed.

Liam McArthur MSP’s register of interests said he expected to receive a final total of £47,799 by January, towards an additional staff member to work on his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Dignity in Dying — formerly known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Society — Humanist Society Scotland and Friends at the End are funding the position. Dignity in Dying also paid McArthur £2,694 in travel expenses to meet the proponents of California’s assisted suicide law.

‘Transparency’

According to The Canary and Guido, news websites at opposite ends of the political spectrum, Dignity in Dying’s sister charity Compassion in Dying has been linked to a £300,000 donation from an offshore tax haven connected to the 2016 ‘Panama Papers’ tax evasion scandal.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of the UK’s leading anti-assisted suicide group Care Not Killing, said: “Dignity in Dying is extremely well-funded and we are right to ask where that money is coming from. They really need to show some transparency”.

McArthur stated: “These questions are for Dignity in Dying. I have no concerns about funding I have received and everything has been registered as required.”

A spokeswoman for Dignity in Dying Scotland added: “Compassion in Dying funding sources are clearly stated in our public accounts and we are regularly audited in line with charity law. Dignity in Dying campaign only for a change in the law that would allow terminally ill adults the option of assisted dying.”

Advertising

Last month, Transport for London (TfL) came under fire for allowing Dignity in Dying posters to be displayed at London Underground stations.

The adverts typically cost thousands of pounds. At some stations, Samaritan suicide helpline adverts over the ads.

Since 2019, junk food adverts have been banned across London’s transport network. But a TfL spokesperson stated that Dignity in Dying’s campaign was “compliant” with its own policy and the Committee of Advertising Practice code.