Supporting Abortion Law Reform

I know that conversations about abortion are not easy. For many people, it’s a deeply personal and often emotive topic. Some are concerned about what recent proposals in Parliament could mean for the future. I want to share why I’ve chosen to support both proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill - New Clause 1 (NC1) and New Clause 20 (NC20).

Understanding the Current Situation

Right now, abortion in England and Wales is still governed by laws written in 1861, under the Offences Against the Person Act. These laws were introduced long before modern medicine and still technically criminalise abortion, with exceptions provided under the 1967 Abortion Act. This means that women and healthcare professionals can still face prosecution under legislation that is now over 160 years old.

In recent years, we’ve seen worrying examples of women being investigated and prosecuted for ending their own pregnancies, even in highly complex or distressing circumstances. These cases can have life-changing consequences, even when no prosecution is brought in the end.

The amendments I’ve signed are about removing the threat of criminalisation – ensuring that women are not punished for making what can be an incredibly difficult decision. Doctors and healthcare professionals can continue to provide safe, regulated care without fear.

About the Two Amendments

New Clause 1 (NC1) – Decriminalising the Woman

• Proposed by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, NC1 would remove the threat of prosecution for women who end their own pregnancies.

• It decriminalises the woman but crucially leaves in place all the criminal penalties for everyone else involved, including doctors, nurses, partners, and friends.

• Because abortion would remain under criminal law, it would not prevent police from investigating women’s digital histories, phones, or period-tracking apps, especially in cases of pregnancy loss.

• It would still leave abortion services vulnerable to future restrictions by ministers using delegated powers, without full parliamentary scrutiny.

New Clause 20 (NC20) – Full Decriminalisation and Human Rights Protections

• Proposed by Stella Creasy MP, NC20 would fully decriminalise abortion for women and those who support them.

• Abortion would instead be governed by clinical regulations and medical frameworks, which would remain unchanged. Time limits and safety protocols would stay in place.

• NC20 introduces a human rights-based framework, similar to what is now in place in Northern Ireland, giving powers to challenge any future Government that tries to restrict safe and legal access.

• It would explicitly remove the offences that underpin current police guidance allowing the investigation of women’s personal data.

• NC20 limits ministers’ powers to interfere with abortion provision in the future.

There has been misinformation suggesting that these amendments would remove all safeguards or allow abortion up to birth without restriction. That is simply not the case. Both amendments would preserve the existing clinical frameworks that govern abortion care, including time limits and safety requirements.

Why This Matters

I signed these amendments because:

• No woman should face criminal charges for a personal health decision.

• Clinicians should not be forced to practise under the threat of criminal law.

• We need a modern, compassionate approach that recognises abortion as healthcare, not as a criminal act.

Abortion will always remain a regulated medical procedure - these amendments do not change that. What they do is remove an outdated law that can and has been used to prosecute vulnerable women.

Addressing Concerns

Some people have contacted me with concerns, particularly around the belief that these amendments would allow abortion up to birth.

·       Neither NC1 nor NC20 would allow abortion up to birth without restriction. The 24-week limit remains.

·       Both amendments maintain clinical regulation - abortion will continue to be a medically supervised, regulated procedure.

·       The idea that these changes would remove all safeguards is simply not true.

Some have also asked whether NC20 would mean people who forced someone to have an abortion couldn’t be prosecuted. That’s not the case. There are already a range of serious offences, such as grievous bodily harm, that would apply in these situations - just as they do in cases of forced medical procedures or violence of any kind.

Looking Ahead

I am proud to stand with colleagues across Parliament in supporting this change. I also believe we must continue working to:

• Ensure women have access to safe, local abortion services.

• Tackle misinformation and stigma.

• Listen carefully to all sides of this debate with empathy and respect.

  
  

Abortion is not an easy subject. But when women, clinicians, and charities are asking us to act to protect people from harm, I believe we have a duty to listen.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to contact me. I will always welcome open, honest conversations - even when we don’t all agree.