Pro-choice group opposes Stella Creasy's abortion amendment
Rachel Clarke, head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said the NC20 amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill does not have the backing of abortion providers.
The amendment would remove criminal penalties for abortion in England and Wales, effectively decriminalising the procedure in all circumstances.
'We are not supporting NC20, and neither are any of the abortion providers in the country,' Ms Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday.
She said a separate proposal, NC1, has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations – unlike Creasy's.
'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year,' she said.
'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered.
'That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators – and proper debate time in Parliament.'
She warned that MPs are being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week.
'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' she said.
The amendment has also been heavily criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who say it would amount to the most extreme liberalisation of the law since the 1967 Abortion Act.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said NC20 could allow abortions on the basis of a baby's sex and would remove protections that allow abusers who harm unborn children to be prosecuted.
SPUC said the amendment, along with another tabled by MP Tonia Antoniazzi, represents 'the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the Abortion Act'.
They urged supporters to lobby their MPs to vote against both proposals, warning that abortion 'up to birth' could become possible under the changes.
Votes on the amendments are due to take place on June 17 and 18 during the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill.
Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence.
However a petition has gathered more than 103,653 signatures urging the Government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion'.
It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.
During a recent Westminster debate, Labour MP Tony Vaughan said it is time to 'abandon these outdated practices' of prosecuting women.
He said: 'I believe that our laws cannot be fixed relics of the past but must reflect social attitudes and societal norms.'
He insisted 'decriminalisation does not mean deregulation' and that he has not seen evidence 'to suggest that removing the criminal law deterrent would then motivate swathes of women to have abortions after 24 weeks'.
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The Guardian
15 hours ago
- The Guardian
Creasy attempt to change abortion law ‘not supported by abortion providers'
An attempt to change the law on abortion from Labour MP Stella Creasy is not supported by 'any of the abortion providers in the country,' a leading pro-choice charity has said. Rachael Clarke, head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas), said Creasy's NC20 amendment to the criminal justice bill 'is not the right way' to reform abortion laws. Bpas is instead backing a separate proposal, NC1, put forward by another Labour backbencher, Tonia Antoniazzi. Antoniazzi's amendment has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations. They include Bpas, MSI Reproductive Choices, the two largest abortion providers in England, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 'We are not supporting NC20, and neither are any of the abortion providers in the country,' Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday. She added: 'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year. 'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered. 'That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators – and proper debate time in parliament.' She warned that MPs are being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week. Votes on amendments, which must first be selected by the Commons speaker, are due to take place on 17 and 18 June during the report stage of the bill. 'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' Clarke said. Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence, most often prosecuted under a piece of Victorian legislation, the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. However, the Abortion Act of 1967 set out criteria under which abortions could be carried out legally, with most carried out up to 24 weeks, and terminations allowed at any point in certain strict circumstances, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. Antoniazzi's amendment would remove 'women from the criminal law related to abortion', meaning 'no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy'. The framework by which abortion is accessed would remain the same. 'The police cannot be trusted with abortion law – nor can the CPS or the wider criminal justice system,' she said. 'My amendment NC1 to the crime and policing bill will give us the urgent change we need to protect women.' Creasy's amendment seeks to decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks, negating elements of the Abortion Act. It would also ensure that late-term abortions outside the Abortion Act do not result in prison sentences. 'Our proposal explicitly leaves in place the well-established time limit under which you can access an abortion,' Creasy said. 'It removes the threat of criminal prosecution for abortion because it is a healthcare matter.' A number of recent criminal prosecutions, including that of Nicola Packer, who was last month found not guilty of carrying out an illegal abortion, have brought the issue to the fore. A petition has gathered more than 103,653 signatures urging the government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion'.
The Independent
16 hours ago
- The Independent
Pro-choice group opposes Stella Creasy's abortion amendment
A leading pro-choice group has come out against Labour MP Stella Creasy's plan to overhaul abortion laws, warning the move is being rushed through without enough scrutiny. Rachael Clarke, head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said the NC20 amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill does not have the backing of abortion providers. The amendment would remove criminal penalties for abortion in England and Wales, effectively decriminalising the procedure in all circumstances. 'We are not supporting NC20, and neither are any of the abortion providers in the country,' Ms Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday. She said a separate proposal, NC1, has the support of more than 50 pro-choice organisations – unlike Creasy's. 'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year,' she said. 'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered. 'That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators – and proper debate time in Parliament.' She warned that MPs are being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week. 'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' she said. The amendment has also been heavily criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who say it would amount to the most extreme liberalisation of the law since the 1967 Abortion Act. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said NC20 could allow abortions on the basis of a baby's sex and would remove protections that allow abusers who harm unborn children to be prosecuted. SPUC said the amendment, along with another tabled by MP Tonia Antoniazzi, represents 'the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the Abortion Act'. They urged supporters to lobby their MPs to vote against both proposals, warning that abortion 'up to birth' could become possible under the changes. Votes on the amendments are due to take place on June 17 and 18 during the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence. However a petition has gathered more than 103,653 signatures urging the Government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion'. It is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. During a recent Westminster debate, Labour MP Tony Vaughan said it is time to 'abandon these outdated practices' of prosecuting women. He said: 'I believe that our laws cannot be fixed relics of the past but must reflect social attitudes and societal norms.' He insisted 'decriminalisation does not mean deregulation' and that he has not seen evidence 'to suggest that removing the criminal law deterrent would then motivate swathes of women to have abortions after 24 weeks'.
Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Telegraph
Labour MP ‘trying to rush abortion overhaul through Parliament'
A Labour MP is rushing an overhaul of abortion laws through Parliament, a pro-choice organisation has claimed. Rachel Clarke, the head of advocacy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said it would be opposing the amendment put forward by Stella Creasy when it is set to come before the Commons later this month. It is one of two amendments seeking to decriminalise late-term abortions in what could be the biggest change to the law since 1990, when the time limit to terminate a pregnancy was reduced from 28 to 24 weeks. One amendment to the Government's Crime and Policing Bill by the Tonia Antoniazzi, a Labour MP, would amend the 1861 Crimes against the Person Act so it would no longer apply to women ending their own pregnancies. Ms Creasy's amendment, known as NC20, would repeal the sections of the 1861 law, which prohibits abortion and defines the offence of concealing the birth of a child. She would also amend the Abortion Act of 1967 to create a 'human rights framework' ensuring that women had safe access to abortion rights and to maintain the 24-week time limit for a termination. However, Ms Clarke told BBC Radio 4 that while BPAS would not be supporting Ms Creasy's amendment, Ms Antoniazzi's was backed by more than 50 pro-choice organisations. 'Abortion law is incredibly complex. It governs 250,000 women's healthcare every single year,' she said. 'Because of that, it is essential that any huge change to abortion law is properly considered. That means involvement with providers, medical bodies, regulators and proper debate time in Parliament.' She warned that MPs were being asked to back a 'generational change' after just three hours of debate next week. 'For us, unfortunately, although we truly believe that we need overwhelming and generational change for abortion law, Stella Creasy's amendment is not the right way to do it,' she said. The amendment has also been heavily criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who say it would amount to the most extreme liberalisation of the law since the 1967 Abortion Act. Abortion 'up to birth' The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said NC20 could allow abortions on the basis of a baby's sex and would remove protections that allow abusers who harm unborn children to be prosecuted. The SPUC said the amendment, along with another tabled by Ms Antoniazzi, represented 'the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the Abortion Act'. They urged supporters to lobby their MPs to vote against both proposals, warning that abortion 'up to birth' could become possible under the changes. Votes on the amendments are scheduled to take place on June 17 and 18 during the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. Abortion in England and Wales remains a criminal offence. However, a petition urging the Government at Westminster to 'remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion' has gathered more than 103,653 signatures. Terminating a pregnancy is legal with an authorised provider up to 24 weeks, with very limited circumstances allowing one after this time, such as when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. During a recent Westminster debate, the Labour MP Tony Vaughan said it was time to ' abandon these outdated practices ' of prosecuting women. He said: 'I believe that our laws cannot be fixed relics of the past but must reflect social attitudes and societal norms.' He insisted 'decriminalisation does not mean deregulation' and that he has not seen evidence 'to suggest that removing the criminal law deterrent would then motivate swathes of women to have abortions after 24 weeks'.
