MSP John Mason has come under fire from pro-abortion MSPs and activists after he defended pro-life vigils. SPUC has defended Mr Mason and criticised the “disingenuous and manipulative” pro-abortion lobby that has “sought to batter Mr Mason into submission with falsehoods”.

Mr Mason stated that abortion was “seldom essential or vital”, and that the abortion industry continues to “push abortion without laying out the pros and cons”.

Referring to ongoing pro-life vigils in Glasgow and elsewhere, Mr Mason also defended such gatherings and placards that “surely… are very gentle and offering help… I do not see anything hateful or harassing about these signs.”

Last month, SPUC’s annual Pro-Life Chain event took place. Hundreds of supporters stood by roadsides around the nation in silent vigil to commemorate the millions of lives lost to abortion in the UK. Many men and women held signs that read: “Let Babies Live - Choose Life.”

Pro-abortion misinformation and prejudice against pro-lifers

Mr Mason’s comments were soon slammed by pro-abortion groups and activists. One group labelled his words “incredibly dangerous and ignorant… His comments are offensive to abortion providers and their patients.”

Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour deputy leader, said that Mr Mason’s statements were “baseless” and “an insult”. She also asserted the false claim that vigils constitute “harassment and intimidation”.

In what appeared to be a threat to Mr Mason’s right to free speech, Baillie added that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon should be “stopping her MSPs spreading damaging falsehoods”.

In 2018, a Home Office review, assessing if there was a need to implement buffer zones, concluded that “aggressive activities” at pro-life vigils were “not the norm”. Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary at the time, stated that “introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response”.

Despite this, First Minister Sturgeon has defined pro-life vigils as harassment. She says that a committee is currently working to restrict pro-life free speech in Scotland, as reported by SPUC.

SPUC defends vigils and right to love

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “There is a staggering lack of argument and honesty from disingenuous and manipulative pro-abortion apologists who have sought to batter John Mason into submission with falsehoods.

“They have even threatened to take away his right to free speech, as Jackie Baillie has done. What does she mean by ‘stopping’ pro-life MSPs from speaking the truth about abortion?

“The low standard of debate in the UK in general and the baseless slurs against pro-lifers at vigils are part of a broader campaign to impose ‘buffer zones’ around abortion facilities, that much is clear.

“The pro-abortion lobby consistently mischaracterises the good work done by pro-lifers who simply want to offer vulnerable mothers a way out of abortion. They want to offer women hope and, above all, save lives.

“To define such loving acts as ‘harassment’ and ‘dangerous’ is an appalling twisting of reality that must be called out. We are not just defending mothers, unborn children and free speech. We are also defending the very reality of love.

“We must not ban love.”