The UK Parliament is set to debate significant changes to abortion laws that could allow women to legally end their pregnancies for any reason up to birth without facing prosecution, according to a legal opinion released ahead of the vote.
Two competing amendments to the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill will be discussed by MPs on Tuesday, both aiming to decriminalise abortion for women but differing on how doctors involved in late-term abortions would be treated.
One amendment, proposed by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, would remove criminal penalties for women who terminate their own pregnancies at any stage but keep criminal sanctions for doctors who assist in late abortions.
The other, put forward by Labour MP Stella Creasy, would repeal older laws criminalising abortion entirely, including protections for medical professionals, though doctors could still face professional disciplinary actions rather than criminal charges.
The legal advice, commissioned by Sir Edward Leigh, a senior MP known for opposing abortion law liberalisation, states that under these changes, women could legally carry out abortions at home for any reason, even late in pregnancy, without fear of prosecution. However, the treatment of medical professionals would vary depending on which amendment passes.
Currently, abortion in England, Scotland, and Wales is legal up to 24 weeks if two doctors agree it is necessary to protect the woman’s health or if severe fetal abnormalities are present. Abortions beyond this limit are only allowed in exceptional cases and remain criminal offences under laws dating back to 1861, which carry penalties including life imprisonment.
In recent years, six women have been prosecuted for ending or attempting to end pregnancies outside the legal framework. The proposed amendments aim to prevent such prosecutions and modernize the law.
Public opinion remains divided. While over 70% of MPs support ending prison sentences for women who have abortions outside current rules, only a small minority of the public supports extending the legal abortion limit beyond 24 weeks.
A third amendment under consideration seeks to ban unsupervised use of abortion pills sent by post, citing concerns about coercion and safety risks.
The Commons Speaker will decide whether both amendments can be debated or if only one will proceed to a vote. The Antoniazzi amendment has backing from over 180 MPs, while Creasy’s has support from more than 100.
This debate marks the most significant proposed change to UK abortion laws in nearly 50 years, reflecting ongoing tensions between protecting women’s rights and addressing ethical and medical concerns around late-term abortion.
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