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.
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/)
Campaigners say ‘extremely vulnerable women’ are having to travel hundreds of miles to visit English clinics
Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent
Mon 21 Apr 2025
Campaigners have warned Scottish ministers that they are failing in their legal and moral duties as growing numbers of “extremely vulnerable women” have to travel hundreds of miles south because they cannot access later-term abortions in Scotland.
Not one of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards provide abortion care after 20 weeks except in the specific cases of foetal abnormality or threat to a woman’s life. This is despite the Scottish government promising to rectify this “explicit inequality” three years ago, and abortion being legal on broad grounds until 24 weeks across the UK.
Sep 24, 2024
The MSP responsible for the introduction of buffer zones near abortion clinics has hailed the first day of the new legislation as "crucial".
Green MSP Gillian Mackay was behind the bill which prevents anti-abortion protesters from gathering within 200m (656ft) of clinics where the procedure is carried out.
The zones, which are now live, were introduced as a result of Mackay’s Safe Access Zones Scotland Act, which was passed in June with the support of 118 MSPs from across the Chamber.
23 Sep 2024
People who break abortion buffer zones have been warned they face “significant fines”. Legislation establishing protected zones of 200 metres around abortion services comes into force tomorrow.
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill was passed in June. Those who break the law may be fined up to £10,000 under summary procedure.
Continued: https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/significant-fines-for-people-who-break-abortion-buffer-zones
Sept 5, 2024
Buffer zones around clinics offering abortion services in Scotland will come into force on 24 September.
The new law will prevent any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m (656ft) of 30 clinics around the country.
Opponents had claimed the legislation would infringe on freedom of religion, but it was passed overwhelmingly by MSPs in June.
Jessica says she had to make the 'traumatic' journey after missing the cut-off for treatment in Scotland.
Caitlin Hutchison
July 18, 2024
Jessica was 23 when she unexpectedly fell pregnant. She had been on contraception and showed no obvious signs, so it took until the eighteenth week of her pregnancy before she realised.
By that stage, even though she was legally entitled to an abortion, she had reached the cut-off in Scotland and her only option was to make an 800-mile round trip to a clinic in England.
Sept 27, 2023
By Craig Williams, BBC Scotland
Pro-choice activists are calling on MSPs to speed up the creation of buffer zones around Scotland's abortion clinics.
The Scottish government is backing a bill which would ban anti-abortion groups from gathering outside clinics.
But campaigners for buffer zones say Scotland is being left behind the rest of the UK.
Since 2019, almost 300 women have travelled to England to receive healthcare they were unable to access in Scotland.
Hannah Brown
July 21, 2023
The number of women travelling from Scotland to England to receive later abortion care has increased by 55% in the past year, new figures show.
In 2021, the number of women travelling to England was 42 but in 2022, new figures from the British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS), seen exclusively by STV News, show this increased to 65.
Since 2019, 282 women have travelled from Scotland to England to attain the service.
June 15, 2023
A bill designed to end protests outside abortion clinics has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay has submitted the proposal, with the first vote expected in October.
The members' bill aims to create 150-metre (164 yard) "safe access" zones around facilities which carry out abortions and other health services.
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