MP’s vote to decriminalise abortion is a significant win for women’s rights

In historic vote, women will be able to abort their pregnancies for any reason up to the point or birth without being prosecuted. 

This will protect women who choose to terminate their pregnancy outside of the rules, including after 24 weeks, from facing investigation and prosecution. The change has caused a spike in searches such as ' abortion pills ' and ' walk-in abortion clinic near me NHS. '

The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill was put forward by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and was passed by a majority of 242 votes. 

The current law on abortion is complicated, as abortion is still illegal in the UK but allowed up the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and beyond in exceptional circumstances, including the pregnancy being a threat to the mother’s life.  

Women can take medication at home to terminate a pregnancy if they are under 10 weeks pregnant. 

Abortions will not be allowed outside of the legal framework. This means that the new clause does not have the ability to change any law regarding the provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting. This includes the time limit, telemedicine, the grounds for abortion, or the requirement for two doctors approval. 

This change comes after a series of high=profile cases hit the media, such as Nicola Parker, who was arrested following delivering a sillborn baby at home after taking prescribed abortion medication when she was around 26 weeks pregnant. 

Antoniazzi highlighted the desperation these women are experiencing, urging MP’s to understand that “these women need care and support, not criminalisation”.

The current laws have been crated as ‘outdated’ and ‘increasingly used against vulnerable women and girls’, having been originally passed by an all-male parliament elected by men alone.

The amendment won the support from 379 MPs, with 137 voting against.

The new law will continue to penalise those who assist women to end their pregnancy outside of the legal framework. This still includes medical professionals.

Labour MP Stella Creasy has recommended a second amendment which pushes this amendment further. It proposes the enshrining of abortion access as a human right by diminishing any abortion related clauses from the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. This act currently outlaws abortion. 

Despite being backed by 108 MP’s prior to the debate, the proposed amendment did not go to a vote. 

Following this, Conservative shadow health minister Dr Caroline Johnson put forward an amendment which would aim to stop abortions where pills are sent through post from requiring an in-person appointment for the medication to be sent out. 

The Johnson amendment was defeated upon a vote. With 379 MPs voting against and 117 voting for. 

The amendment still needs to complete its legislative journey through both the Commons and the Lords before it can become law.

Not everyone is pleased with the outcome however, with the Society for the Protection of Unborn  Children (SPUC) stating they felt ‘horrified’ following the vote. 

Paul Golding, Co-Leader of Britain First, a far-right party who was previously suspended from Twitter prior to Elon Musk’s takeover, called the amendment “sick, twisted and evil” in a tweet.