Run a Citizens’ Assembly on assisted dying

Our verdict

Status

This promise is not started. The Scottish Government responded to the first Citizens’ Assembly, held in 2019, in 2021. In this document, the administration committed to holding further citizens’ assemblies. Further support for these assemblies and other forms of deliberative democracy were expressed in the 2021-2022 Programme for Government. However, no specific plan for or commitment to running a Citizens’ Assembly on assisted dying has been made.

“Commitment to future Citizens’ Assemblies” (Scottish Government, 23rd November 2021)

Other pledges

The SNP also promised to respond to the report of the first Citizens’ Assembly, hold citizens’ assemblies annually, institute one for the under-16s and run them on a variety of other topics, including the role of local government, council tax, drug decriminalisation and issues surrounding the type of country and independent Scotland would be.