Debates around abortion laws in the UK have reached new heights with a recent proposal seeking to eliminate criminal sanctions for abortions, extending the legality up to birth. The suggestion, part of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, has stirred significant controversy.
Lord Alton, a Crossbench peer, reacted strongly to this proposal, describing it as a “grotesque measure.” He expressed his disapproval of the brief 46-minute debate in the House of Commons, calling it “deeply shocking.”
In his written speech, Lord Alton highlighted that the UK’s current abortion laws are already more permissive than in much of the Western world, even without the proposed changes. The Crime and Policing Bill, originally focused on crime and anti-social behavior, has, according to Alton, been repurposed to facilitate significant changes in abortion law.
“Hijacking an unrelated Bill to try to force through what would be the biggest change to abortion law in this country since the Abortion Act in 1967 is no way to make law,” he stated.
Lord Alton warned that the proposed amendment could increase risks for women, particularly concerning self-administered abortions in advanced pregnancy stages. He emphasized the potential negative consequences for both women and unborn babies, highlighting the distress and dehumanization involved in such procedures.
Currently, UK law allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, in contrast to the European Union average of 12 weeks. Statistics show around 250,000 abortions occur annually in the UK, with nearly 11 million terminated since the 1967 Abortion Act.
Opponents of the bill, including Lord Alton, argue that removing criminal penalties for abortions could endanger women, especially if they undertake late-stage abortions at home. “Imagine the distress, practicalities, and dehumanisation of these self-administered procedures,” Alton remarked.
The peer also criticized the “pills by post” initiative and advocated for reinstating the requirement for in-person consultations prior to obtaining an abortion, a mandate that was lifted during Covid lockdowns.
In concluding his speech, Lord Alton emphasized the importance of national conscience, stating, “If we fail to raise our voices now and fail to rouse the conscience of the nation, both women and unborn babies will be the victims. Both lives matter and we should unhesitatingly say so.”
He further asserted, “We are a civilised country – not a barbaric one. Introducing abortion up to birth should have no place in a civilised society. It is abhorrent.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
