Britain’s House of Commons voted to largely decriminalize abortion past the unborn baby’s 24-week gestation. The bill applies to England and Wales.
The debate and voting on June 17 in Britain’s Parliament on the amendment known as NC1 passed by a 370-137 vote. The amendment removes the “threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, imprisonment” to those who have an abortion beyond Britain’s restrictions on abortion, including those done after the 24-week mark. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, introduced the amendment, which modifies the Crime and Policing Bill.
The House of Commons also shut down a Conservative Party bill that would have required an in-person appointment before a woman could obtain abortion pills.
Another amendment introduced by Labour MP Stella Creasy was not chosen for a vote. Her amendment would have fully decriminalized abortion by making it a human right.
In an opinion article published by The Guardian, Creasy stated that her amendment would have “gone further” by protecting “all those involved in ensuring that women can access safe and legal abortions.”
Even though NC1 still awaits consideration in the House of Lords, that unelected chamber cannot block the bill but only delay the amendment before its enactment.
Ciarán Kelly, director of The Christian Institute, a U.K. Christian charity, believes the decision has grave implications on the unborn.
“An unbearably large number of babies—more than ten million—have been killed in Britain since the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act,” Kelly said. “Now MPs have voted to ditch one of the few remaining safeguards protecting the unborn. They have done so with little or no regard for the welfare of expectant mothers. DIY abortions, at home, late in pregnancy, dramatically increase the likelihood of complications endangering women’s health.”
David Smith, MP appointed as the U.K. special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, also criticized the decision.
“I have heard it said that no woman would induce an abortion after 24 weeks,” Smith said, “but we cannot introduce such a profound change in abortion law on the basis of a simple hope that no woman would take such a drastic step.”
