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A new bill aiming to legalize abortion will be discussed in the House of Commons next week. Two Labour Members of Parliament, Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy, have proposed competing amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle may select either one or both of the amendments for debate, with only one likely to proceed to a vote. MPs typically have a free vote on abortion, allowing them to vote independently of party lines on the issue.
Currently, abortion in England and Wales is illegal but permitted up to 24 weeks of pregnancy and beyond in specific circumstances such as if the woman’s life is at risk. Two doctors must approve abortions, ensuring they meet certain criteria, such as posing a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health. Recent changes in the law have enabled women to receive pills for home-based terminations within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. In 2022, there were 252,122 reported abortions in England and Wales, marking the highest number on record. Abortion providers have encountered an increase in requests for medical records from police over suspected abortion-related offenses in the last five years.
Tonia Antoniazzi’s proposed amendment seeks to protect women from being investigated, arrested, prosecuted, or imprisoned for self-terminated pregnancies. She argues that such investigations are dehumanizing and lengthy, particularly affecting vulnerable women. While the amendment has garnered support from 176 MPs and major abortion providers, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children opposes it, calling it an extreme proposal that would effectively decriminalize abortions. The amendment would maintain penalties for medical professionals and violent partners who conduct illegal abortions.
Stella Creasy has introduced an alternative amendment that would establish abortion access as a human right and prevent investigations into women who have terminated their own pregnancies. Creasy asserts her amendment goes beyond Antoniazzi’s by offering protection to all involved in facilitating safe and legal abortions. Although backed by 108 MPs, the proposal lacks support from abortion providers. Critics, including the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, argue that Creasy’s amendment is overly extreme, prohibiting the prosecution of abusive partners who cause the death of an unborn child. Abortion law remains a complex issue, with experts emphasizing the need for careful consideration in any significant changes
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