A bill which aimed to jail pro-life citizens for six months for demonstrating outside abortion clinics has been blocked in the House of Commons. However, the threat from buffer zones has not gone, says SPUC’s Alithea Williams.

Labour MP Rupa Huq’s Bill to “restrict demonstrations in the vicinity of abortion clinics; and for connected purposes” came up for second reading today. However, it was fifth in line to be debated, and only bills that were unopposed after 2.30pm could proceed. An objection from Government whip Rebecca Harris prevented the bill from proceeding any further.

“While this particular bill will not become law, there is still a very real danger that buffer zones will be introduced,” said Alithea Williams, SPUC’s Campaigns and Parliamentary Research Assistant. “This bill, and the upcoming one from Sarah Olney MP, are both means of raising the issue again and again, to try and get the Government to act.

“The abortion lobby are relentless, and we need to be too,” she continued. “ We need to counter their narrative by getting as many names as possible on our petition to present to the Home Secretary and the Scottish Justice secretary. The petition has already gathered over 3,000 names – this is good, but we can do better!”

SAVE THE RIGHT TO SAVE LIVES

Sign the petition calling on the Home Secretary/Scottish Justice Secretary to uphold the right of peaceful, law-abiding pro-life citizens to save the lives of unborn children and to offer help to pregnant women directly outside abortion clinics and to reject any measure to restrict this activity here.