British MPs have overwhelmingly voted 379 to 137 In the House of Commons in favour of decriminalising abortion in England and Wales.
If approved by the House of Lords, it will be the biggest change to UK abortion laws in nearly 60 years.
Women would no longer face prosecution for terminations up to birth, but those who assist them such as medical professionals, could still be prosecuted if the procedure takes place outside the current legal framework.
The Catholic church and pro-life groups expressed “alarm” and “horror” over the decision and called on the House of Lords to reject the bill.
MPS IGNORE RECENT POLL SHOWING MOST BRITONS AGAINST CHANGES
The MPs ignored a recent poll that found more than 60% of Britons opposed to changing abortion laws.
Abortion in England and Wales is currently legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks pregnancy, with very limited circumstances allowed after this time.
It is also legal to take prescribed medication at home if a woman is less than 10 weeks pregnant.
Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP who put forward the amendment, said it would remove the threat of “investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment” of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy.
OPPOSING VIEWS OF BRITISH MPS
Tory MP Rebecca Paul said she was “disturbed” by the changes which will mean “fully developed babies up to term could be aborted by a woman with no consequences.”
“The reason we criminalise late term abortion is not about punishment. It’s about protection,” she added.
‘We protect women from trying to perform an abortion at home that is unsafe for them.”
“We protect them from coercive partners and family members who may push them to end late term pregnancies.”
Other conservative women MPs supported that view.
CATHOLIC CHURCH EXPRESSES “ALARM”
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said: “We are deeply alarmed by this decision.”
“Our alarm arises from our compassion for both mothers and unborn babies.”
“This decision significantly reduces the protection of unborn lives and will result in grave harm for pregnant women.”
“Women will be even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions.”
“This legal change will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely.”
PRO-LIFE GROUP: “AN UNDEMOCRATIC, BARBARIC PROPOSAL”
Alithea Williams from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) was “horrified that MPs have voted for this extreme and barbaric proposal.”
“This change has been made after only a few hours debate, with little notice.”
“It was not in the Government’s manifesto, and it certainly doesn’t reflect public opinion.”
‘We call on the Lords to throw this undemocratic, barbaric proposal out when it reaches them.”
“We will never accept a law that puts women in danger and removes all rights from unborn babies”‘
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