MPs vote to continue abortion ‘pills by post’ scheme in England

Government will be forced to abandon its plan to end a two-year trial of the scheme in August

Denis Campbell Health policy editor
Wed 30 Mar 2022

Women in England will be able to access a “pills by post” abortion service indefinitely after MPs voted today to compel ministers to make it permanent instead of scrapping the scheme in September.

The decision will benefit tens of thousands of women every year who want to take the two tablets needed to end a pregnancy in the privacy of their own home rather than having to take the first at a clinic or hospital. They have to be taken within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/30/mps-vote-to-continue-abortion-pills-by-post-scheme-in-england

UK – At-home abortion care to continue after being introduced in lockdown

Several MPs spoke passionately about their experiences of family members having to go to clinics for early abortions.

Alix Culbertson, Political reporter
Wednesday 30 March 2022

MPs have voted to allow women in England to continue to access abortion care at home after it was introduced during the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, women were required to attend a clinic in-person to access abortion pills, but during the first lockdown in March 2020 women have been able to receive the pills by post following a phone or video consultation.

Continued: https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-to-continue-at-home-abortion-care-introduced-in-lockdown-12578383

UK – Coronavirus: Abortion law changes ruled out by health secretary Matt Hancock

Coronavirus: Abortion law changes ruled out by health secretary Matt Hancock

George Martin, Yahoo News UK
Mar. 24, 2020

Abortion rules will not be changed as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the health secretary has announced, after the government published and then deleted changes to the law.

Matt Hancock was pressed by MPs after the Department of Health said it would allow women and girls to take abortion pills at home, without the need to attend a clinic or hospital, and for doctors to prescribe from their own homes.

Continued: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-abortion-rules-lockdown-covid-143825696.html

24.03.2020

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UK – My abortion politicised me, says WEP leader Mandu Reid

My abortion politicised me, says WEP leader Mandu Reid
Women’s Equality party head says her decision would have been different if UK parenting policies had been more progressive

Nosheen Iqbal
Sat 27 Apr 2019

Mandu Reid, the new leader of the Women’s Equality party (WEP), has spoken publicly about the impact of her abortion and why it compelled her to enter politics.

In an interview with the Observer, Reid said her decision to have a termination at 33 had not been “an easy choice” but one made because she “couldn’t balance being a single mother and hold on to my career aspirations”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/27/mandu-reid-wep-abortion-politicised-me

27.04.2019

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UK – 50 MPs Call For Women In England To Be Able To Take Abortion Pills At Home

50 MPs Call For Women In England To Be Able To Take Abortion Pills At Home
Women can begin to miscarry on their way home from clinics, under current regulations.

By Nicola Slawson
July 16, 2018

MPs are calling on the new health and social care secretary to allow women in England to take the second pill required for an abortion at home.

In a letter, which has gained cross-party support from more than 50 MPs, Matt Hancock has been urged to remove the restriction, which requires women to take both drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) at a licensed clinic or hospital.

Continued: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/more-than-50-mps-urge-matt-hancock-to-let-women-in-england-take-abortion-pills-at-home_uk_5b4c6c91e4b0e7c958fd04be

UK- Tory MP calls for debate on lowering legal time limit for abortions

Tory MP calls for debate on lowering legal time limit for abortions
Maria Caulfield says current 24-week limit is one of most liberal abortion laws in the world

Emily Hawkins
Fri 2 Mar 2018

Maria Caulfield, the Conservative party’s vice-chair for women, has called for a debate on reducing the 24-week time limit for women to receive legal abortions.

In remarks that drew criticism from Labour, the MP for Lewes said the 1967 Abortion Act – which applies to England, Scotland and Wales – was “one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/02/tory-mp-calls-for-debate-on-reducing-legal-time-limit-for-abortions

02.03.2018

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UK: The Conservatives’ New Vice Chair For Women Wants Abortion To Remain A Criminal Act

The Conservatives' New Vice Chair For Women Wants Abortion To Remain A Criminal Act
Tory MP Maria Caulfield last year argued that decriminalising abortion could threaten the "dignity and rights of the unborn child".

Posted on January 8, 2018
Laura Silver, BuzzFeed News Reporter

The Conservatives' new vice chair for women has vehemently opposed a reform that would see abortion taken out of criminal law.

In a debate about the issue last year, Maria Caulfield, Conservative MP for Lewes, who was appointed to the position during Monday's cabinet reshuffle, told the Commons: "I, and many colleagues who share my views, will not be silenced as we seek to be a voice for the voiceless, and as we argue for more modern and humane abortion law that upholds not only the dignity and rights of women but the dignity and rights of the unborn child."

Continued at source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurasilver/the-conservatives-new-vice-chair-for-women-wants-abortion?utm_term=.huYWdj7w1#.ihpbk0QwY

UK: MP Maria Caulfield, Who Opposed Decriminalising Abortion, Appointed Tory Vice Chair For Women

MP Maria Caulfield, Who Opposed Decriminalising Abortion, Appointed Tory Vice Chair For Women
'It is an appalling decision.'

Jan 08, 2018
Kate Forrester, Political reporter, HuffPost UK

Abortion rights campaigners say they are “incredibly disappointed” Maria Caulfield has been made Conservative vice chair for women in Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle.

The Lewes MP said she was “delighted” with the job, which will see her serve alongside newly-installed party chair Brandon Lewis and vice chair James Cleverly.

Continued at source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/abortion-rights-campaigners-incredibly-disappointed-maria-caulfield-is-new-tory-chair-for-women_uk_5a537acee4b01e1a4b17a2ef