First Minister John Swinney has said he will not support a bill which would allow assisted dying in Scotland.

Legislation to allow terminally ill parents to take their own life is being put forward at the Scottish Parliament by the Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur and will be voted on by MSPs on 13 May.

If the bill passes it would allow a patient to request medical assistance to end their life, but only if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors.

A Holyrood committee which is scrutinising the legislation has said members should vote at the first stage of the process as a “matter of conscience”.