FORMER Scottish secretary Michael Forsyth has performed a massive U-turn in his stance against assisted dying following the death from cancer of his father John.
A long-term opponent of the "right to die" campaign, Forsyth now says he will support the Assisted Dying Bill – giving terminally ill people the right to legally seek help to die - which will have its second reading in the Westminster Parliament tomorrow.
Forsyth, who was ennobled as Baron Forsyth of Drumlean, told the Daily Mail of the tragic circumstances which caused his change of heart.
READ MORE: Andrew Tickell: If we don't talk about assisted dying now, when will we?
He said: “He had this horrible bladder cancer and was in a lot of pain. When I went to see him just before he died I said ‘I'm really sorry dad, that you are suffering’.
“He said to me ‘You're to blame’. I was taken aback. I wasn't expecting it and said ‘What do you mean?’
“He said ‘You have consistently voted against the right to die; and I want that; and I can't get it and I've got this pain.’ He wasn't doing it in a nasty way. His view was ‘Look I'm in pain, I know what I'm doing, why should I be denied this right?
“I didn't have an answer. He died within a week – it was the last time I saw him. That is why I have changed my mind.”
Forsyth, 67, carries considerable influence in the House of Lords as chair of the Association of Conservative Peers. The former MP for Stirling – after three terms of office he was defeated by Labour’s Anne McGuire in 1997 - was a UK Government minister under both Margaret Thatcher and John Major, latterly as secretary of state for Scotland.
READ MORE: Jim Sillars: Assisted dying bill ‘has better chance’ this time
He told the Mail of the events leading up to his father’s deathbed statements: “He was at home, it was the weekend and he couldn't get any morphine because the GP surgery was closed. He had to go all the way to hospital in Dundee 30 miles away to get a prescription.
“Then they had to find a pharmacist, but they could only provide a limited amount because of rules on controlled drugs.”
John Forsyth died at home in Montrose at the age of 88 in April, 2019.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel