Dear
SPUC supporter,
Â
As well as the attacks on life at its end, in the form of the Leadbeater and McArthur assisted suicide bills, we are also facing very grave threats to the lives of unborn babies.
In June, MPs approved an extreme amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to remove women from the criminal law relating to abortion â essentially allowing abortion for any reason, up to birth, if it is induced by the woman herself. This horrifying proposal received considerable pushback at Second Reading in the House of Lords and amendments have been tabled on removing it and on ending the pills by post policy. Other peers have tabled amendments on ensuring that underage abortions are investigated, and that sex-selective abortions are not legalised. Â These amendments will be debated together on the last day of the Billâs Committee Stage - now scheduled for Tuesday 27 January 2026.
Such proposals are not just being made at Westminster. In Scotland, an âexpert groupâ has published a report proposing changes to the abortion law in Scotland, that, if accepted, would bring about the largest extension of access to abortion since 1967. The most significant proposals include:Â
- Prior to 24-weeksâ gestation (the current legal time limit), all grounds for abortion be removed and only one doctorâs signature should be required. This would mean on demand abortion, for any reason, up to 24 weeks.
- Beyond 24 weeks, abortion be available if two doctors âdecide abortion is appropriateâ.
- Decriminalise abortion for women acting in relation to their own pregnancy at any gestation.
Taken together, these proposals will effectively legalise abortion up to birth with few, if any, substantive restrictions.
While these proposals are not currently included in any specific Bill, we need to take them seriously. The Abortion Law Review Group was commissioned by the Scottish Government, and their proposals are likely to have a lot of weight. With a Holyrood election due in May, we need to make it clear to all parties that these proposals are horrific and should not be included in any manifesto.
Please help us to fight decriminalisation in England and Wales, and in Scotland. Here are three actions that you can take, depending on where you live.
Â
All supporters: Contact Members of the House of Lords
Please write to Members of the House of Lords, asking them to oppose the decriminalisation amendment. You can use our webtool to contact members of the House of Lords. It will generate a Peer at random for you to write to, and bring up an editable template. Once you have finished your letter, it will be emailed to you to print off and send to the Peer by post. Alternatively, you can opt to send your message by email, though paper letters are always more impactful than emails.
|
|
