The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) has pulled its support for the assisted dying bill ahead of its return to the House of Commons on Friday. It comes as plans to legalise assisted dying in Scotland passed the first stage this week.

An emotional MSP has revealed how how her mother opted to starve herself to “hasten her inevitable death” after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Elena Whitham told how her mother Irene McLeod took two weeks to die after making that decision in secret back in 2014.

With Holyrood backing the assisted dying Bill in principle, MSPs now face difficult debates over definitions, and competence as Stage 2 begins.