Image source, Getty Images

Here are the key lines which emerged from tonight's historic vote:

• MSP's rejected the bill to legalise assisted dying
• 69 MSPs voted no, 57 voted yes and Health Secretary Neil Gray abstained after an emotionally-charged debate
• The bill would have given terminally ill adults with less than six months left to live the right to seek medical assistance to end their lives
• A number of MSPs who had backed the bill in principle at an earlier stage decided they still had too many concerns to support it
• The Lib Dem MSP proposing the legislation, Liam McArthur, said after the vote that he was "deeply disappointed"
• Independent MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy spoke of her relief and said disabled people would take strength from the vote
• The debate heard a number of passionate pleas for and against the bill, with some MSPs in tears and others saying this showed the parliament in the best light
• Opponents raised several concerns about the bill - particularly fears of people being pressured into an assisted death.
• McArthur accused those who rejected the bill of a "woefully inadequate response to the suffering and trauma experienced by dying Scots and their families".

That's all from our live coverage of the final debate and vote on the assisted dying bill. The editor was Catherine Lyst. The writers were Craig Hutchison and James Delaney. Thank you for joining us.

Lots more bills for MSPs to vote onpublished at 23:40 GMT 17 March

23:40 GMT 17 March

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

MSPs might be hoping for a bit of a rest after the draining experience of the past week, which has featured four sessions running past 22:00 and a rare Friday sitting just to debate this bill at stage three.

But all of that time spent on one piece of legislation has caused a real pile-up with just days to go until parliament breaks up.

MSPs actually passed two other bills today, and they're due to vote on two more tomorrow.

Then on Thursday they are due to consider another four pieces of legislation - again sitting until 22:00 on both days.

Another three bills are due to be considered next Tuesday, and if you're keeping count that will have them voting on 12 bills inside the space of a week.

And then the parliament breaks up on the Wednesday for the small matter of an election campaign.

There is a real question about whether this is the right way to make good law - after a lengthy debate about the assisted dying bill being watertight, functional legislation.

But there is simply too much work left to do this term. MSPs really have little choice now but to continue to burn the candle at both ends.

Jared Evitts
BBC Newsbeat

Eighteen-year-old university student Ryan-Thomas said he was shocked by the decision.

“I have lost a lot of relatives and close people with terminal illness, and I have watched as they have declined and become a shell of their former selves,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s right, I don’t think that’s dignified and I don’t see how anybody could allow that to happen to somebody.

“We only have to win the argument once; the opposing side have to lose it every single time.”

The vote features on the front page of many of Wednesday's newspapers. The Herald headline says "Scotland says no to assisted dying" and The National reports Liam McArthur's devastation.

Following the vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, Omar Afzal, director of public affairs at the Scottish Association of Mosques, said: “Today’s vote is not a moment for celebration, but for reflection.

“MSPs were asked to consider three fundamental questions: whether vulnerable people could be fully protected from coercion, whether healthcare professionals were adequately safeguarded, and whether this bill could truly guarantee dignity at the end of life.

“On each of these, serious and unresolved concerns remained."

He added: “The priority now must be to improve palliative care, strengthen support for those nearing the end of life, and ensure that every person in Scotland is treated with dignity, compassion and care until their natural end.”

“That is the standard Scotland must strive for.”

Jared Evitts
BBC Newsbeat

We’ve just spoken to Freddie, he’s a 16-year-old from Edinburgh and wanted to come to Holyrood as he has a keen interest in what’s been happening tonight.

“I find this to be one of the most significant bills in devolved history so I wanted to be a part,” he says.

“I think they made the right decision, because although assisted dying has some benefits, like if people don’t want their families to see them in a poor condition, I think its flaws outweigh its advantages.

“As someone with a disability myself, I would have been quite concerned that by the time I’m ending my life, it may be easier to do so, and I might not be in the right state of mind to make such a complex decision.”

A visibly emotional Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP spoke of her “relief” at the result of the vote.

She told BBC Scotland she was “proud” of the Scottish Parliament and the way the bill was handled.

“I know this was a deeply personal decision for everyone in the chamber today,” she said.

“But for disabled people across the country watching on, I think they will take some strength in the vote.”

Shona Haslam, spokesperson for Care not Killing, said the result of the vote was a positive for “the most vulnerable”.

She told BBC Scotland: “We are really relieved.

“The emotion and the personal speeches and stories that everyone had were incredible, but it did come down to the detail in the bill, the change in the doctor/patient relationship, the dangers of coercion and the leaving of powers to Westminster.

“There is always the possibility that a mistake might be made, if one mistake is possible, we can’t vote for it.”

"It is sickening to watch the handwringing from the opponents of this bill. The bottom fell out of my world when I heard the words "incurable degenerative spinal disease". There has barely been a moment in the 20 years since where I have not been in pain. The only thing which varies is the intensity. How dare you decide that I must suffer, for the sake of your beliefs." Ian

"SO disappointed at the decision made tonight at the Scottish Parliament. What is it about the word “CHOICE” that some people don’t get? If a person wants to end their life with assisted dying that is THEIR CHOICE. Everyone has a right to make their own choices in life and to have THEIR choice respected. If you don’t want assisted dying, that’s YOUR choice, so why do you think you have the right to take away that choice from a person who does want assisted dying?" Nesta

"I could not personally support this bill, but as a believer in democracy I would respect the outcome. What made me proud was the tone of debate, the respect and the level of diligence shown by our MSPs. I have not seen this in the past, and indeed I thought they acquitted themselves more admirably than the MPs down south did. Therefore, I feel sad for those who lost the vote, but I am heartened at how our elected representatives came to a measured decision (that may change in a future consideration). William

Rhonda Paton, from Edinburgh, was disappointed with the result after watching the debate from the gallery.

She described the atmosphere in the chamber as “tense” throughout.

“This was about severe cases where you are not living, you are just existing and I think we should have been given the choice,” she said.

“You see the conditions people are living in, in a shell basically, they just want a bit of help to hasten it.

“I think this is going to pass in the future. I really thought it was going to be tonight, but it wasn’t to be.”

'MSPs could be seen wiping away tears'published at 22:52 GMT 17 March

22:52 GMT 17 March

James Cook
Scotland editor

Image source, Getty Images

This was an emotional evening here at Holyrood and, for campaigners in favour of assisted dying, a deeply disappointing one.

In 27 years of devolution, the Scottish Parliament has now considered, and rejected, the principle of assisted dying, or, as some call it, assisted suicide, three times.

But opinion is clearly shifting. In 2010 MSPs rejected the idea by 85 votes to 16 and in 2015 it was 82 to 36 against.

This time the margin of defeat for the bill was narrower, 69 against and 57 in favour.

At many points during the debate, MSPs could be seen wiping away tears and, at the end, several comforted the bill's sponsor Scottish Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, who looked distraught.

There were moral objections to his bill, there were practical objections but in the end it may have been constitutional objections which proved the stumbling block.

The Scottish Parliament did not have the power to confer protections on NHS staff who objected to participating in the process.

They would have relied on Westminster to insert such protections and for some medical organisations and some MSPs that was not good enough.

Dr Julia Laing, of Friends at the End, said she was heartbroken, adding that Scotland has to do better

Her colleague Emma Cooper, convener of the charity, said: "We are extremely disappointed to see that MSPs did not reflect the views of the people they represent in the Assisted Dying Bill (Scotland) today.

"The overwhelming majority of people in every single constituency across Scotland clearly communicated they wanted assisted dying.

“It is hard to understand given the testimony we heard today from terminally ill adults and their loved ones who have too often witnessed, frankly, horrible deaths.

“The debate has sadly been plagued by misinformation and fears overriding facts. This was not a choice between living or dying, it was simply a question of how.

"This is not an issue that is going to go away and the fact remains that the status quo lacks compassion."

Big swing after 12 MSPs switch votepublished at 22:43 GMT 17 March

22:43 GMT 17 March

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The Scottish Parliament has sent out the full breakdown of the vote and it's confirmed that 12 MSPs who backed assisted dying in the first vote last year have switched to oppose the bill tonight.

They include some who had announced that move, such as the Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay; some who announced it in the chamber, like Labour's Daniel Johnson; and some we weren't necessarily expecting, such as SNP housing secretary, Mairi McAllan.

Those changes are why there has been such a big swing - from a majority of 14 votes in favour of the bill in May last year, to a majority of 12 against it tonight.

Image source, PA

The Lib Dem MSP, whose member's bill for assisted dying has just been defeated, thanks his staff and the terminally ill Scots and their families who have told their stories.

"I am sorry that parliament has denied you this compassionate choice tonight," he says.

“However, for now we should be proud that this is by far the most votes that an assisted dying bill has ever secured in the Scottish Parliament.

"This is not a conversation that is going away.

"For so long as dying Scots continue to suffer as a result of the lack of choice and safety afforded to them by the current law, I’m certain that it will be an issue in front of parliament once more."

Liam McArthur MSP has today expressed his disappointment as his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults bill fell just short in its stage three vote tonight.

The Lib Dem MSP says: "I am obviously deeply disappointed at the result of tonight’s vote.

"For many MSPs this will have been the last significant vote they will cast in their time in parliament.

"I know many have wrestled with their consciences.

"They will now have to live with their decisions."

Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)

Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)

Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)

Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)

Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)

Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)

Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)

Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)

Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind)

Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)

Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)

Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)

Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind)

Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)

Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)

Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)

Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)

Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)

Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)

Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)

Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)

Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)

Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)

Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)

Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)

Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)

Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)

Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)

Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)

MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)

Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)

Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)

Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)

Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)

McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)

McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)

McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)

McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)

Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)

Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)

O'Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)

Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)

Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)

Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab)

Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)

Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform)

Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)

Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP)

Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)

Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)

Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)

Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)

Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)

White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)

Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)

Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)

Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)

Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)

Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)

Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)

Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)

Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)

Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)

Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)

Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)

Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)

Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)

Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)

Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)

Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)

Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)

Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)

FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)

Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)

Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)

Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)

Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD)

Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)

Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)

Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)

Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)

Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)

Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)

Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)

Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)

Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)

Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)

Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)

MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)

Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)

Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)

Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)

Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)

McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)

McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)

McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)

Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)

Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)

Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)

Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)

Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)

Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)

Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)

Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)

Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)

Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)

Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)

Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)

Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)

Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)

Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)

Our colleagues in the parliament are gathering reaction to the vote on the assisted dying bill.

Campaigners against the proposed legislation are saying they are relieved.

They also say the quality of debate was the best of this parliament.

From the other side of the argument, Ally Thompson, of Dignity in Dying, says she is hugely disappointed and the issue is not going away.

Following the vote, Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, said: “We are relieved that MSPs have decided not to back this legislation.

"We believe the bill posed serious risks to the most vulnerable in society - including disabled people and those suffering from domestic abuse."

This is echoed by the Church of Scotland's moderator, Rt Rev Rosie Frew, who said: "I welcome the news that the Scottish Parliament has chosen not to approve the assisted dying bill.

"In May 2025, the General Assembly reaffirmed its opposition to assisted dying, following extensive Church-wide consideration, lengthy debate and a close vote."

Swinney 'relieved' that bill voted downpublished at 22:29 GMT 17 March

22:29 GMT 17 March

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The first minister did not speak in the debate, but we knew in advance that he would be voting against the bill.

Outside the chamber, John Swinney tells reporters he is "relieved" that the bill was voted down after an "incredibly passionate" debate, but understands that other members will be deeply sorry about the outcome.