The Nationalists signalled that they would keep their distance from an attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Health Secretary, told the BBC she was “not persuaded” that the law should be changed.

Ms Sturgeon spoke days after the Independent MSP Margo MacDonald said that she hoped to bring legislation before the Scottish Parliament next year. Ms MacDonald, who has Parkinson's Disease, believes that there should be choices for those whose lives have become intolerable.

Ms Sturgeon said she feared that it would be difficult to prevent the system from being abused. “I'm not persuaded as yet of the argument for moving towards that position. I'm not convinced we could put in place sufficient safeguards.”

Ms MacDonald has said that she wants to be allowed the right to end her life, but used her column in a Sunday newspaper yesterday to point out that she was not trying to change the law because her illness. “I'll promote the arguments as a professional politician, not as someone with Parkinson's,” she wrote.

There is no case law in Scotland on what punishment those who assist suicides might face and Ms MacDonald wants to avoid Scottish courts making decisions based on English laws.

Times Recommends

• Everyone will get vaccine against swine flu
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes