Conservative MPs Vote to Decriminalize Abortion in England and Wales

Strategic Insights -

A significant shift in abortion laws was approved on June 17 by the British Parliament, with 379 MPs voting in favor of the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. The amendment, proposed by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, seeks to remove the threat of prosecution for women who undergo abortions beyond the legal time limit. The change marks the most significant update to abortion laws in decades, with MPs from the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, and other parties backing the move.

Key Takeaways:

  • The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill was approved with 379 votes in favor and 137 against, indicating a landslide victory for decriminalization.
  • Eight Conservative MPs, including Kit Malthouse and MP for North West Hampshire, voted in favor of the amendment, despite the party not whipping the vote.
  • The change in abortion laws aims to remove the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment for women who undergo abortions beyond the legal time limit.
  • The amendment does not affect abortions after 24 weeks, which remain tightly regulated, and ensures that doctors who break the rules or abusers who coerce women into terminations can still be prosecuted.
  • Conservative MP Kit Malthouse acknowledged that the vote was one of the most difficult and emotionally testing he had taken, but ultimately chose to support the amendment due to his belief that women in distress should not be sent to prison for ending their pregnancies.
  • The amendment was backed by a coalition of MPs from various parties, including Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru, and the SDLP.

Statistics:

  • 379 MPs voted in favor of the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill.
  • 137 MPs voted against the amendment.
  • 96 Conservatives, including party leader Kemi Badenoch, voted against the amendment.
  • 291 Labour MPs were among those who voted in favor of the amendment.

Sources:

  • "MPs vote to decriminalise abortion beyond 24 weeks in England and Wales." [Source: The Guardian, June 18]
  • "Crime and Policing Bill: MPs approve amendment to decriminalise abortion." [Source: PA Media, June 17]
  • "Kit Malthouse: 'I voted to decriminalise abortion because I couldn't accept that women should go to prison'." [Source: The Observer, June 18]