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Legislative bills

Abortion to be Decriminalised in England and Wales after MPs Back Landmark Reform

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Yesterday, the UK's Parliament voted overwhelmingly to decriminalise abortion, paving the way for a significant change in the law concerning reproductive rights. The move comes ahead of a vote on assisted dying, marking a pivotal moment in the country's social history. The proposed legislation aims to remove the threat of prosecution and imprisonment for women who end their own pregnancies, with the exception of doctors who perform abortions beyond the 24-week limit. The reform is a culmination of decades of activism by pro-choice groups, who see it as a crucial step towards protecting vulnerable women.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed legislation aims to remove the threat of prosecution and imprisonment for women who end their own pregnancies, except for doctors performing abortions beyond 24 weeks.
  • The reform will alter the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, which outlawed abortion, to make it inapplicable to women aborting their own babies.
  • Six women have appeared in court in the past three years charged with ending or attempting to end their own pregnancy.
  • The Labour MP behind the changes, Tonia Antoniazzi, described it as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to change "Victorian" abortion laws.
  • Anti-abortion campaigners have expressed opposition, citing concerns about the removal of deterrents to late-term abortion and the protection of unborn children.
  • The British Pregnancy Advisory Service and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have welcomed the vote as a "landmark moment for women's rights".
  • Doctors who carry out abortions beyond the 24-week limit will still face criminal punishment.

Statistics:

  • 242 MPs voted in favour of the reform, with no Cabinet ministers voting against it.
  • 11 MPs voted in favour, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's suggestion that he would have backed decriminalisation had he not missed the vote.
  • Six women have appeared in court in the past three years charged with ending or attempting to end their own pregnancy.

Sources:

  • [Sam Merriman, Social Affairs Correspondent, mentions unnamed sources in the article, so only article itself]
  • Parliament website
  • Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
  • British Pregnancy Advisory Service
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  • British Medical Association

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