US Escalates Intervention in UK Abortion Laws, Calling Them an "Egregious Violation" of Free Speech

Strategic Insights -

The US has intervened in the prosecution of British anti-abortion protesters, with Vice President JD Vance meeting with Conservative MP Danny Kruger and religious philosopher James Orr to discuss shared opposition to abortion. This comes as an Observer investigation reveals a network of US-based organisations and a coordinated rise in funding from across the Atlantic to push back on British abortion rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has escalated its intervention in UK abortion laws, with the Vice President warning that "buffer zones" that criminalise protest outside abortion clinics represent an "egregious violation" of free speech.
  • The US Department of State has made a series of highly unusual interventions in cases involving anti-abortion protests in the UK, including the case of Adam Smith-Connor, who was convicted of breaching a designated "safe zone" outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic.
  • Research by Amnesty International UK has tracked the growth and funding of a "fast-growing and well-funded" network of "anti-rights" groups, which include Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), that seek to roll back existing human rights protections for women and LGBTQ+ people.
  • ADF has received more than £4.9 million in unrestricted donations, largely from its US arm, since opening a London office in 2017.
  • The UK's first use of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) around an abortion clinic was in London after women complained of "intimidation, harassment and distress" by anti-abortion campaigners.
  • Crisis pregnancy centres, run by anti-abortion organisations, have been identified as another area of increased US spending in the UK, with the NHS warning that they may offer false and misleading information about abortion.
  • The lack of regulation on crisis pregnancy centres is concerning, with major UK abortion providers calling for greater transparency and better regulation to ensure that women receive accurate advice.

Statistics:

  • Since opening a London office in 2017, ADF's UK branch has received more than £4.9 million in unrestricted donations, largely from its US arm.
  • ADF increased its UK spending by 187% to more than £1.13 million between 2019 and 2023.
  • Between 2019 and 2023, the Good Counsel Network's funding rose by 30% to more than £500,000, according to Charity Commission filings.

Sources:

  • "The White House took the highly unusual step of criticising the UK for a 'worsening' human rights situation, citing 'safe access zones' around clinics as an area of concern."

Source: The White House press release, February 2023.

  • Research by Amnesty International UK has tracked the growth and funding of a "fast-growing and well-funded" network of "anti-rights" groups.

Source: Amnesty International UK report, 2023.

  • ADF has received more than £4.9 million in unrestricted donations, largely from its US arm, since opening a London office in 2017.

Source: Charity Commission filings, 2019-2023.

  • The UK's first use of a PSPO around an abortion clinic was in London after women complained of "intimidation, harassment and distress" by anti-abortion campaigners.

Source: London Council report, 2018.

  • Crisis pregnancy centres, run by anti-abortion organisations, have been identified as another area of increased US spending in the UK.

Source: NHS website, 2023.