Why is Scotland the only part of the UK not to decriminalise abortion?

As women’s reproductive rights come under increasing attack from populists, our Writer at Large meets the campaigners demanding that the SNP modernise the law in Scotland

By Neil Mackay
Sep 6, 2026

Lucy Grieve has become one of the leading campaigners for women’s rights in Scotland – and she hasn’t hit 30 yet. She was a student when she set up Back Off Scotland, the campaign that led to the establishment of buffer zones outside abortion clinics to protect women and healthcare staff from religious protesters.

…Today, Grieve is at the heart of the Let’s Change The Act campaign, which aims to modernise and reform Scotland’s abortion laws. Campaigners says the law is outdated and discriminatory.

Continued: https://archive.is/jdJxc
(https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26525203.scotland-part-uk-not-decriminalise-abortion/)

‘Women from Wales come to my London clinic because of inadequate abortion care’

Aug 17, 2026
Kate Morgan, Laura Butler

Some women in Wales could be forced into continuing unwanted pregnancies because of inadequate surgical abortion care, according to a senior obstetrician.

Dr Ed Dorman said he treated women from Wales every other week at a British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinic in London but is worried about the "unknown number" who he said had little choice but to continue their pregnancies.

BBC Wales has been told women from Wales face the added "trauma" of travelling to England for care after 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9wvg03pk5o

It’s official: No woman in England or Wales can be prosecuted for an abortion any more

Decriminalisation explained (and no, this does *not* mean 'abortion is now legal up until birth')

By Jennifer Savin
29 April 2026

After years of campaigning, England and Wales have officially decriminalised abortion for women in a “landmark moment” as part of proposed changes to the Crime and Policing Bill.

The government has now formally done away with the ancient Offences Against the Person Act from 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act of 1929, both of which saw women and girls open to arrest, investigation or prosecution in relation to procuring an abortion for themselves. Recent years have seen a worrying increase in criminal cases, after minimal incidences for decades, as more anti-abortion groups receive funding in the UK.

Continued: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a71163004/england-wales-decriminalise-abortion/

UK – Labour plans will encourage ‘lunch-hour’ abortions, critics claim

Campaigners argue Streeting’s strategy to incentivise clinics for ‘same day’ treatments will leave women with less time to reconsider

Gabriella Swerling
17 April 2026

Labour would encourage “lunch-hour” abortions under new plans, critics have claimed. A change to the payment structure for abortion clinics would provide a “financial incentive” to rush women through treatment, claimed anti-abortion campaigners.

The new payment process was launched as part of Wes Streeting’s renewed women’s health strategy for England, in which he promised to tackle medical misogyny and improve women’s care.

Continued: https://archive.is/zXYiH
(https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/04/17/labour-plans-lunch-hour-abortions-critics/)

17.04.2026

News

Andrea Williams

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Peers vote to back clause pardoning women convicted over illegal abortions

House of Lords decision welcomed as ‘landmark moment’ after attempt to strike out amendment is defeated

Hannah Al-Othman
Thu 19 Mar 2026

Women who have been convicted, and in some cases jailed, over illegal abortions are set to be pardoned after a historic vote in the House of Lords.

Last June, the House of Commons voted to end the criminalisation of women who terminate their pregnancies outside of the legal framework, while keeping the existing framework in place. Doctors and others who act outside of the law could still face the threat of prosecution.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/19/peers-vote-to-back-clause-pardoning-women-convicted-over-abortions

19.03.2026

News

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Heidi Stewart

House of Lords

Louise McCudden

MSI Reproductive Choices

Nikki Packer

pardoning womn for illegal abortion

Northern Ireland – Schoolgirl traumatised after being wrongly sent to England for abortion

March 15, 2026
Lyndsey Telford, BBC News NI

A schoolgirl who was wrongly sent from Northern Ireland to England for a termination was traumatised by the ordeal, her mother has said.

She said the 18-year-old was forced to wait for a flight home after the procedure while bleeding and cramping.

The teenager was 18 weeks pregnant and could have been treated in Northern Ireland, but was sent to London due to confusion by the booking provider over the services available.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp32kwe2280o

15.03.2026

News

Alliance for Choice

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

decriminalisation of abortion

Emma Campbell

Heidi Stewart

Nuala McAllister

traveling to England for abortion

How US groups are driving a new generation of anti-abortion activism in the UK

March 15, 2026

For 21-year-old John Alexander, being against abortion came before finding faith. As a teenager at school in Buckinghamshire, he was confused as to why most of his peers supported access to abortion. On social media he argued vocally against it.

Then, shortly after the pandemic, he became more interested in Christianity. He was raised in the Church of England (CofE), but thought the denomination was "dry" and involved "people sitting in pews not doing much". He was inspired by the young pastor at a Pentecostal Church which discussed social issues like abortion more than CofE churches, he says. He also watched social media videos of street preachers.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2dl5j0w23o

UK – Diane Munday obituary

Pioneering abortion campaigner whose beliefs were underpinned by humanism

Penny Warren
Mon 2 Feb 2026

On 27 October the Abortion Act 1967 became law. It was a landmark piece of legislation and the hard-won result of years of campaigning by Diane Munday, who has died aged 94.

However, her glass was only half full. The law applied only to Great Britain, not to Northern Ireland, and it did not give women complete freedom to choose: two doctors were required to authorise the procedure. Speaking about that October night, Munday said: “The act was a compromise. Only when women had the power to decide for themselves would our task be fully done. At 3am we were sitting on the terrace drinking champagne. And I remember saying that it’s too soon to celebrate. We have done only half the job, so let’s drink half glasses of champagne.”

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/02/diane-munday-obituary

02.02.2026

Abortion Act 1967

Abortion Law Reform Association

Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

National Council of Women of Great Britain

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Vera Houghton

Why Are So Many British Women Getting Abortions?

New government figures suggest that, amid a fertility slump, there has been a sharp rise in abortions in the UK. Our reporter speaks to the women who can explain why.

By Kara Kennedy
01.29.26

Gemma is 28, British, and recovering from an abortion she had just over a month ago. She was far enough along—a few days shy of five months—that she had to be admitted to the hospital. She would have preferred to end the pregnancy earlier—but she didn’t know about it, even after getting checked out by a doctor after suffering from fatigue.

“I was still having periods. I wasn’t gaining weight. I was going to the doctor and getting blood tests, and nobody ever told me I was pregnant,” she told me.

Continued: https://www.thefp.com/p/why-are-so-many-british-women-getting

29.01.2026

Commentary

Abortion Act 1967

Ann Furedi

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

hormonal contraceptive

Bristol abortion clinic praised for outstanding service

Staff there are caring, safe and empathetic, a new report says
Angus McIntyre

08 Jan 2026

An abortion clinic in Bristol has been rated 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest rating available.

The CQC ranked the MSI Reproductive Services Treatment Centre in Stoke Gifford outstanding overall and in three of five individually-assessed fields: safety, effectiveness and care. The clinic, which services patients across the South West, was rated 'good' in the responsiveness and leadership categories.

Continued; https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-abortion-clinic-praised-outstanding-10741707

08.01.2026