On Tuesday 28 November 2023, Labour MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Stella Creasy tabled amendments New Clause 1 and New Clause 2 respectively to the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill.

Both amendments would decriminalise abortion, removing it from the criminal law. These amendments will shortly be debated in a Public Bill Committee.

SPUC has now submitted evidence to the Committee.

Responding to the two proposed clauses, SPUC has highlighted that under New Clause 1;

• Removing the proposed offences for women would remove any legal restrictions on women regarding abortion. A woman could abort for any reason, including the sex of the baby.

• While the amendment applies only to a woman in relation to her own pregnancy, if self-induced abortions were never investigated, it is difficult to see how a third party could be charged in cases of coercion.

Responding to New Clause 2,

• The vast majority of convictions under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act are against men who cause the death of an unborn child by attacking a pregnant woman or giving her abortifacients against her will. Repealing them will stop such men being brought to justice.

• Section 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act deals with the crime of concealing the body of a baby who dies before, during or after birth, and is currently used when infanticide is suspected but cannot be charged due to lack of evidence. Repealing it, as this clause proposes, means that a woman would commit no offense if she self-induced abortion at full term or killed her baby during birth.

• Similarly to NC1, the repeal of sections 58 and 59 would make abortion legal at any time, for any reason.

Make a submission

The Committee has put out a call for evidence asking for views on the Criminal Justice Bill. This is an important opportunity to oppose these dangerous decriminalisation amendments.

SPUC is encouraging supporters to submit a short submission to the committee.

The key point to make is: Reject New Clauses 1 and 2.

Please include any other points you would like to make in your submission to the Committee, including any personal experience you have. Please put things into your own words as much as possible.

Your submission should be set out in a Word or similar document and must include:

• Heading: Evidence re: Criminal Justice Bill 2023
• Your name and address.
• The points you want to make to the Committee. (See bullet points above.)

Please email your submission to: scrutiny@parliament.uk. 

These amendments are very dangerous, and could completely overhaul abortion law in this country.

Please take this step to help SPUC defeat them.