Only 2 Political Parties Have Pledged To Decriminalise Abortion In England & Wales

Only 2 Political Parties Have Pledged To Decriminalise Abortion In England & Wales

By Lauren Sharkey
Nov 27, 2019

Manifestos have been released and election campaigns are well underway. But a closer look at each manifesto has revealed that only two major parties are promising to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales.

Although the 1967 Abortion Act permits abortions up to 24 weeks, the Victorian-era 1861 Offences Against The Person Act was never repealed. This means that abortions performed outside of the Abortion Act's parameters are technically punishable by a lengthy prison sentence. (Both the person having the abortion and the people assisting it are at risk of criminal prosecution.)

Continued: https://www.bustle.com/p/only-2-political-parties-have-pledged-to-decriminalise-abortion-in-england-wales-19407527