SPUC supporters and staff made their presence known today outside the Houses of Parliament in a peaceful demonstration against abortion decriminalisation. Vote NO to abortion up to birth was the message to MPs who will debate and vote on decriminalisation later tonight.
Today, 17 June, MPs are set to debate an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that, if passed, would decriminalise abortion up to birth.
Later this evening, MPs will debate and then vote on Tonia Antoniazzi’s NC1 amendment that seeks to decriminalise abortion by removing women from the criminal law related to abortion.
NC1 would mean that a woman who induced her abortion at home using pills (or any other method) at any stage of pregnancy, including just before natural birth, would not commit a crime.
Another amendment, NC20, tabled by MP Stella Creasy, is also being considered.
NC20 would remove offences in the Abortion Act, meaning that abortion could be carried out for any reason, including the sex of the baby. There would also be no way to bring an abusive partner who causes the death of an unborn baby to justice.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has condemned both amendments and called them the greatest threat to unborn children and their mothers since the 1967 Abortion Act.
Today, SPUC led a peaceful protest in opposition to the extreme pro-abortion amendments. Around 80 men and women, including many young people, held signs and placards that read, “Say No To Abortion Up To Birth.”
SPUC was also joined by other pro-life groups such as Christian Concern and March 4 Life UK.
Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, was in attendance to protest the amendments. Pro-life activist Rachel McKenzie also spoke at the event.
SPUC CEO John Deighan addressed the demonstration amid a high media presence, including the BBC, SKY and Channel 4.
Mr Deighan was also grateful to interview Sir Leigh outside Parliament.
“Let’s be clear: this isn’t healthcare. It’s a moral crisis”, SPUC Executive Director Michael Robinson posted on X before the demonstration.
A recent poll commissioned by SPUC found that most of the British public believes in upholding legal protections for unborn children and their mothers.
67 per cent of respondents agreed with the SPUC poll statement that “Abortion is a matter of life and death, and it is therefore appropriate that the criminal law provides a clear boundary to protect everyone involved.” Just 14 per cent disagreed.
Another poll conducted by pollster Ipsos last month found that almost half of Britons think the current 24-week limit on most abortions is “about right”. Only 4 per cent of Britons thought the limit was too early.
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