Morality and politics never mix.

Just a quick thought on the political gerry-mandering over Margo MacDonald MSP's end of life bill. It appears that the opposition parties have all got together to create an ad-hoc committee to consider her bill, rather than, as expected, it being considered by the Health Committee. I understand this has been done ostensibly to stop the SNP chairing any possible ad-hoc committee which could look into the Independence Referendum Bill (please, no points of order, I'm not a Parliamentary rule anorak!). The argument goes a sensitive issue or national concern, and possibly international concern, has been used as a political football.

Whilst this is true, I think Margo herself hits the nail on the head. The health committee membership is already in place and contains two doctors, each on different sides of the fence on the issue. Any new committee would have to have it's members selected by the parties and parliament. It could end up more complicated and political than chosing a US Supreme Court justice, especially as many MSPs have already made their views on the issue known (or they can be inferred from previous statements). How then can this committee of politicians be truely objective? If an ad-hoc committee has to be set up would it not be better that it was a committee of experts, possibly reporting back to the Health Committee and Parliament? Does not a issue of such importance to many Scot's, in difficult situations, deserve this attention? I don't think it has been treated as such, it is being treated as a whim of a backbench MSP. That it has gained such attention already is testament to the popularity and hard work of Margo MacDonald.

Having not considered this issue in depth myself I am unsure what my views are but I do begin with an open mind. If this is how our national Parliament wants to go forward with this issue then I can only hope that it gives it the attention it deserves. It is not only 129 MSPs that need to make up there mind, it's 5 million Scots.