MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in historic move

MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in a historic step that will usher in the most far-reaching change to reproductive rights in decades.

- KATE DEVLIN

After an emotional and impassioned debate in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 379 to 137 in favour of the reform.

They overwhelmingly backed an amendment by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to remove "the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment" of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy.

The reform is designed to protect women while retaining penalties for abusive partners or medical professionals who terminate a pregnancy outside the current framework of the law.

During the debate, MPs had argued that the UK's "Victorian" abortion law was "increasingly used against vulnerable women and girls". Under the current law, abortion in England and Wales is a criminal offence but is legal up to 24 weeks, with the sign-off from two doctors.

It is also allowed under limited circumstances after this time, including when the mother's life is at risk. Women can also be prescribed medication to end a pregnancy at home if they are less than 10 weeks pregnant.

In recent years, there has been a rise in calls for law reform, coinciding with a growing number of prosecutions of women accused of undergoing illegal abortions.

However, the move faced stiff opposition from the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who described the proposed reforms as "extreme".

Ms Antoniazzi said police had investigated more than 100 women for suspected illegal abortions in the past five years, "including women who've suffered natural miscarriages and stillbirths".