Rupa Huq, the Ealing MP who was spearheaded moves to ban peaceful pro-life vigils outside abortion clinics, has stated her intention to table an amendment to the Public Order Bill to introduce buffer zones.
During a debate on the Government’s Bill on Monday, the Labour MP said: “I give the Minister advance warning that I will be seeking to amend the Bill to protect women from this most distressing and unpleasant form of protest.”
Ms Huq also made unsubstantiated claims about “gruesome foetus dolls [and] women being told that they are going to hell” outside the abortion clinic in Ealing, where the first buffer zone banning pro-life vigils was introduced.
Dame Diana Johnson MP also spoke about using the Bill to legislate for buffer zones. She praised Dr Huq and said “I will continue to support her, including any amendments to this Bill that she tables.”
Wera Hobhouse MP (Liberal Democrat) and Caroline Lucas MP (Green) also used the debate to advocate for buffer zones.
Kit Malthouse, the Minister for Crime and Policing, appeared to question these MPs’ support of such a measure, when they clearly backed demonstrations and protests for other causes. In response to Ms Hobhouse, he said: “I am honestly and genuinely perplexed by the argument about buffer zones… I understand the sensitivity in that particular situation, but why is it that we object to and are willing to restrict that particular form of protest, but not others?” To Ms Lucus, he said: “I wanted to ask whether the hon. Lady, notwithstanding her objection to the banning of protest, subscribes to the enthusiasm across the House for the ban of protests near abortion centres or clinics, and supports the creation of buffer zones that ban protests in those circumstances. If that is the case, is she possibly guilty of wanting to ban only protests with which she does not agree?”
In 2018, following an extensive review, the Home Office rejected the idea of implementing nationwide buffer zone legislation around abortion facilities. In Scotland, a consultation has been launched on a buffer zones bill.
Alithea Williams, SPUC’s Public Policy Manager, said: “Pro-abortion MPs continue to demonise people who take part in pro-life vigils, making wild accusations with no basis in fact. That they want to ban people witnessing quietly outside clinics, and often offering a lifeline to women who want to keep their baby, shows that they cannot tolerate any opposition to the abortion narrative. As the Minister pointed out, these are the same people that are objecting to the Government putting any curbs on public protests. Clearly their defence of the right to protest does not extend to pro-lifers.
“We call on the Government to uphold the rights of pro-life people to peacefully witness against the tragedy of abortion, and we will be vigilant in opposing any moves to introduce buffer zones through this or any other bill.”
Say No to Buffer Zones