Scotland – Leading anti-abortion figure standing for Reform UK in May elections

April 13, 2026
By Steph Brawn

A WARNING that reproductive rights "are not safe" with Reform UK has been issued after it emerged a leading anti-abortion figure is standing for the party in England's local elections. Lois McLatchie Miller is standing for Nigel Farage's party in the affluent London area of Maida Vale next month.

McLatchie Miller has worked for years for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) – a Christian group known for its work overturning abortion rights in the US as well as opposing LGBT+ rights – and has made regular appearances on GB News and Talk TV.

Continued: https://archive.is/Eo0Mq
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/26017330.leading-anti-abortion-figure-standing-reform-uk-may-elections/)

13.04.2026

News

Alliance Defending Freedom

buffer zone laws

Gillian Mackay

Lois McLatchie Miller

Nigel Farage

Reform UK

safe access zones

Southern Poverty Law Center

Anti-abortion group active in Scotland withholds size of US funding

Apr 3, 2025
By James Walker

AN anti-abortion group active in Scotland has withheld details about the amount of US funding it receives.

The National previously revealed that ADF International – one of several groups which has actively looked to challenge Scotland’s abortion buffer zones legislation – received £1,119,975 in 2024 from its US parent entity Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), according to Companies House.

This represented a 281% increase in just two years, as it received £398,000 in 2022. Now, in newly published accounts, the organisation reveals that it has received £1,409,342 in total in 2025 – a hefty increase of over £150k.

Continued: https://archive.is/MAKTm
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25992604.anti-abortion-group-active-scotland-withholds-size-us-funding/)

03.04.2026

News

ADF International

Alliance Defending Freedom

buffer zone law

Gillian Mackay

safe access zones

Southern Poverty Law Center

Europe

Scotland

Anti-choice

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