Scotland – MSP writes to Google over free ads for anti-abortion groups

Dec 28, 2025
By James Walker

AN MSP has written to Google after The Sunday National revealed that the tech giant has been giving free advertising to anti-abortion groups targeting pregnant women in Scotland.

Our investigation found that several crisis pregnancy helplines covertly run by anti-abortion organisations benefitted from the Google Ad Grants programme in 2025 – a scheme which gives nonprofits up to £7000 per month of free search advertising. This included Life, which ran ads offering free pregnancy tests (below) while simultaneously promising to “offer support while you wait”.

https://archive.is/9PqBT
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25724191.msp-writes-google-free-ads-anti-abortion-groups/)

28.12.2025

News

anti-choice ads

crisis pregnancy helplines

Google ads for anti-choice groups

Anti-abortion group ‘gives talks and plays’ at Scottish schools

Dec 28, 2025
By James Walker

CONCERNS have been raised over an anti-abortion group giving talks and plays at Scottish schools. The Scottish arm of The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), which has received US funding, claims in its latest filings with Companies House that it has “provided educational talks and drama productions” to school children across the country.

The Sunday National sent an FOI request to every council in Scotland, with two (Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire) so far confirming that the group has recently visited schools in their area.

https://archive.is/grEGB
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25724244.anti-abortion-group-gives-talks-plays-scottish-schools/)

28.12.2025

News

Gillian Mackay

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children

Scotland – Anti-abortion campaigner charged over clinic protest

Dec 19, 2025

Rose Docherty became the first person charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act after holding up a placard outside the facility in Glasgow in May, and again in September.

Under the laws, introduced in 2024, activities which could "influence or alarm others around hospitals and clinics where terminations are carried out" are prohibited.

Ms Docherty, 75, made no plea during the initial hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday and will appear again on 13 January.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4qp0v2zv1o

19.12.2025

Scotland – Google panned for giving free ads to UK anti-abortion groups

Nov 30, 2025
By James Walker

GOOGLE has been giving free advertising to anti-abortion groups targeting pregnant women in Scotland and across the UK, the Sunday National can reveal.

Several crisis pregnancy helplines covertly run by anti-abortion groups have been given free ads throughout 2025 via Google Ad Grants – a scheme which gives nonprofits up to £7000 per month of free search advertising.

Continued: https://archive.is/m8xn2
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25658467.google-panned-giving-free-ads-uk-anti-abortion-groups/)

30.11.2025

News

anti-choice ads

anti-choice advertising

Inside the right-wing push against abortion rights in Scotland

Nov 30, 2025
By James Walker

A RECENT review of Scotland's abortion laws led to widespread right-wing outrage last week. One clip that went particularly viral was a GB News segment featuring Lois McLatchie Miller, who works for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).

“The Scottish Government have commissioned a report to suggest that they allow abortion all the way up to birth for most social reasons,” she told the broadcaster’s presenters.

Continued: https://archive.is/lcmwa
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25659692.inside-right-wing-push-abortion-rights-scotland/)

Disinformation on Scotland abortion law is insulting to women

DISINFORMATION around reasonable, recommended changes to Scotland’s abortion laws is as exhausting as it is predictable.

Nov 24, 2025
By Gemma Clark

I petitioned the UK Government to decriminalise abortion. Earlier this year, the petition reached more than 100,000 signatures – the threshold needed for a parliamentary debate.

Two MPs proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to achieve decriminalisation. Ultimately, Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment passed. I am glad my petition showed the strength of public support across the UK. I was invited to Westminster to listen to the debate and I heard all the usual disingenuous arguments.

Continued: https://archive.is/rKIG5
(https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25643687.disinformation-scotland-abortion-law-insulting-women/)

24.11.2025

sex-selective abortion

Scottish abortion law ‘not fit for purpose’, says expert group

Nov 14, 2025
BBC

Scotland's abortion laws are "not fit for purpose" according to an expert group, which has called for legal recognition for a woman's right to choose.

Currently, an abortion is only legal before 24 weeks when two doctors agree that certain grounds have been met - such as a risk to the mother's physical or mental health. An independent report recommends that these grounds are dropped, and doctors' agreement should only be required for late-term abortions after 24 weeks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crre45x7n8jo

14.11.2025

News

Abortion Law Expert Group

Scottish Government accused of missing abortion care solutions target

Nov 3, 2025
Exclusive by Hannah Brown

The Scottish Government has been accused of missing a six-month target to deliver “much-needed” solutions to improve access to abortion care, prompting calls for a ministerial statement at Holyrood.

In May, Women’s Health Minister Jenni Minto pledged to “get the work done” within six months after being pressed on when health boards would be able to offer abortion care up to the 24-week legal limit.

Six-months have now passed with no new provision in place and no plan published, sparking renewed criticism from service providers.

https://archive.is/Q8CA4
(https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25587974.scottish-government-accused-missing-abortion-care-solutions-target/)

03.11.2025

New campaign launched to decriminalise abortion in Scotland

Oct 29, 2025
By Lucy Jackson

CHARITIES and civic groups have launched a new campaign to modernise abortion law in Scotland. The "Lets Change the Act" campaign calls for the full decriminalisation of abortion in Scotland and the replacement of the Abortion Act 1967 with a modern, health-based framework.

The campaign is backed by more than 200 individual members and 30 organisations, including Amnesty Scotland, the Equality Network, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Continued: https://www.thenational.scot/news/25579625.new-campaign-launched-decriminalise-abortion-scotland/

29.10.2025

News

Abortion Act 1967

Amnesty International Scotland

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Scottish Trade Union Congress

SCOTLAND – Gillian Mackay slams JD Vance attacks on buffer zones bill

18th October
By Fiona Brown

GILLIAN Mackay has slammed US vice president JD Vance’s attacks on the abortion buffer zones bill.

… During her speech at the Scottish Greens conference on Saturday, party co-leader Mackay called out “anti-choice protesters” misrepresenting the bill, including Vance.

“You can imagine my reaction when I found out that it was also the Vice President of the United States,” Mackay said.

Continued: https://www.thenational.scot/news/25553346.gillian-mackay-slams-jd-vance-attacks-buffer-zones-bill/

18.10.2025