Many of you will have joined us in prayer for our elected representatives over the course of the past five years.

Like us, you will have been disappointed – and at times dismayed – by what was said or done at Holyrood.

But there have also been many encouragements and much to give thanks for.

Chief among these was just a few short weeks ago, during the final days before the dissolution of Parliament.

The evening of Tuesday 17th March 2026 ought to be forever etched in our memories, for it was on that day, after years of campaigning, that Holyrood voted down the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill by 69 votes to 57.

The margin of the vote was a genuine shock, for less than a year earlier, MSPs had voted by 70 votes to 56 in favour of the Bill progressing.

CARE for Scotland has been tirelessly campaigning against the introduction of physician-assisted suicide since the 2021 Election, as we were acutely worried that our most vulnerable, isolated and ill Scots would have felt pressured to opt for a so-called ‘assisted death’.

We were so thankful that a majority of MSPs agreed.

Instead, the focus of the next Parliament must be on achieving gold standard palliative care for every Scot who requires it.

In the weeks ahead, please ask your candidates (or their canvassers) what their view is on ‘assisted suicide’, and what they would do to improve end of life care.