British lawmakers have voted to decriminalize abortions in England and Wales in a move that pro-life advocates and medical professionals say could endanger women and unborn children.
Newsdesk (18/06/2025, Gaudium Press) On June 17, 2025, the British House of Commons voted 379-137 to pass an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, decriminalizing abortion in England and Wales. The amendment, introduced by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, removes criminal penalties for women who terminate their own pregnancies at any stage, including after the current 24-week legal limit. While the change does not alter clinical regulations—such as the requirement for two doctors’ approval for abortions up to 24 weeks or specific medical grounds thereafter—it has ignited a fierce debate between advocates for women’s autonomy and those concerned about the risks to women and viable unborn children.
Background and Rationale for the Amendment
Under the existing law, governed by the Abortion Act 1967, abortions in England and Wales are permitted up to 24 weeks with the approval of two doctors, and beyond that in cases of severe fetal abnormalities or risks to the mother’s life or health. However, women who self-administer abortions outside these parameters face prosecution under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Antoniazzi argued that such prosecutions are unjust, citing over 100 police investigations into suspected illegal abortions in recent years. She highlighted a particularly emotive case of a mother of three, sentenced to two years in prison for terminating her pregnancy at eight months, calling the current law “cruel” and asserting, “This is not justice, it is cruelty and it has got to end.”
Supporters of the amendment, including organizations like the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), argue that decriminalization protects vulnerable women, particularly those in abusive relationships or facing financial hardship, from the trauma of criminal prosecution. They emphasize that the amendment does not change the clinical framework for legal abortions but removes the threat of jail for women acting independently. Public sentiment, as reflected in polls such as a 2023 YouGov survey, shows strong support for safe and legal abortion access, with 87% of respondents favoring women’s right to choose in the first trimester.
Opposition from Pro-Life Advocates and Medical Professionals
The amendment faced significant opposition from pro-life groups and medical professionals. In a letter dated June 17, 2025, over 1,000 medical professionals urged MPs to reject the amendment, warning that it could lead to unsafe practices and an increase in late-term abortions. They expressed concern that decriminalization would “remove any legal deterrent against women administering their own abortions late in pregnancy,” potentially including abortions for sex-selective reasons, which 91% of women oppose according to a 2022 Savanta ComRes poll. The letter also called for reinstating mandatory in-person consultations for chemical abortions, a measure defeated during the same parliamentary session.
Right to Life UK, a prominent pro-life organization, echoed these concerns, arguing that the amendment could endanger women by increasing the risks associated with self-administered late-term abortions, particularly through abortion pills obtained via the “pills by post” scheme. This program, expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, allows women to access abortion medication without in-person visits. The group cited evidence of complications, such as severe bleeding and infections, associated with late-term use of these pills, and warned that the amendment could enable providers to “cover up the disastrous consequences” of the scheme. They also highlighted the potential loss of viable unborn children, noting that the amendment could lead to “an increased number of viable babies’ lives being ended well beyond the 24-week abortion time limit and beyond the point at which they would be able to survive outside the womb.”
Broader Implications and Public Reaction
The decriminalization amendment has sparked a polarized public debate. Supporters view it as a progressive step toward protecting women’s autonomy and reducing stigma around abortion. BPAS reported that since 2018, at least 60 women have faced police investigations for suspected illegal abortions, often following traumatic circumstances such as miscarriage or domestic abuse. These cases, they argue, underscore the need for reform to prevent further victimization.
Conversely, opponents argue that the amendment prioritizes individual choice over the safety of both women and unborn children. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) called the vote a “dark day for the unborn,” emphasizing that the lack of legal oversight could increase the number of abortions past the point of viability—typically around 22-24 weeks—when babies can survive with medical intervention. Critics also point to the ethical concerns of sex-selective abortions, which could rise without legal consequences for women, though such practices remain illegal for providers under existing regulations.
Legislative Path and Future Outlook
The amendment is part of the broader Crime and Policing Bill, which must pass a final vote in the House of Commons before moving to the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber of the U.K. Parliament. While the Lords can propose amendments and delay the bill, they cannot block it outright, particularly given the Labour government’s strong majority in the Commons. Legal experts suggest the bill is likely to become law by late 2025, though debates in the Lords may refine its language or add safeguards.
Public opinion remains divided. While polls indicate broad support for abortion access in the first and second trimesters, only 1% of respondents in a 2024 YouGov poll supported abortions up to birth for any reason, suggesting potential public unease with the amendment’s scope. The issue is likely to remain contentious, with pro-life groups vowing to campaign for stricter regulations and oversight, while women’s rights advocates push for further liberalization, including potential changes to the 24-week clinical limit in future legislation.
Raju Hasmukh with sources from
– House of Commons Debate, June 17, 2025, Hansard.
– Right to Life UK, Press Release, June 17, 2025.
– British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Statement on Decriminalization, June 2025.
– Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Position Paper, June 2025.
– YouGov Poll, “Public Attitudes on Abortion,” 2023-2024.
– Savanta ComRes Poll, “Abortion and Sex Selection,” 2022.
– Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), Press Statement, June 17, 2025.
– Letter from Medical Professionals to MPs, June 17, 2025.
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