UK – Lords vote to pardon women convicted of having an illegal abortion

Peers also rejected an attempt to overturn the move by MPs to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy.

Abbie Llewelyn
Thursday 19 March 2026

The House of Lords has backed a move to pardon women who have been convicted of having an illegal abortion.

The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would also apply to women who were cautioned and would remove the women’s details from police systems, regardless of the outcome of the case.

It comes after a landmark move by MPs in June last year to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mps-blackstone-sarah-mullally-bill-b2941478.html

19.03.2026

Crime and Policing bill

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Tonia Antoniazzi

who chairs the trustees of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

UK – Vulnerable women in England still being arrested over suspected illegal abortions

Nottinghamshire and Met police made arrests in past year, despite MPs voting to decriminalise in England and Wales

Hannah Al-Othman, The Guardian
Sun 15 Mar 2026

Vulnerable women in England are still being arrested and facing police investigations over suspected illegal pregnancy terminations, despite parliament backing changes to the law to decriminalise abortion.

Responding to a freedom of information request, Nottinghamshire police and the Metropolitan police confirmed they had arrested women suspected of illegal terminations between June last year and this January.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/women-arrested-suspected-illegal-abortion-england-police

15.03.2026

News

arresting women for abortion

Harriet Wistrich

Jonathan Lord

Louise McCudden

MSI Reproductive Choices

National Police Chiefs’ Council

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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

Abortions at record high in England and Wales ‘driven by cost of living’

Providers and doctors say lack of access to contraception another reason for the 11% rise in procedures in 2023

Hannah Al-Othman
Thu 15 Jan 2026

The rising cost of living and a lack of access to contraception have driven another rise in abortion rates in England and Wales, providers and doctors said.

Government statistics released on Thursday showed that abortions increased by 11% in 2023 compared with the previous year.

The age-standardised abortion rate for women was 23.0 abortions per 1,000 residents, the highest rate since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967.

Continued; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/15/abortions-record-high-england-wales-cost-of-living-contraception

15.01.2026

News

1967 Abortion Act

abortion rates in England

Dr Alison Wright

Katie Saxon

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

The worrying rise of US anti-abortion rhetoric is in full force – how deep is Reform UK’s involvement?

Money is pouring into anti-abortion campaigns in Britain, and it seems Nigel Farage’s party isn’t pushing back…

By Jennifer Savin
20 November 2025

There’s been a lot of talk recently suggesting that we need to keep a close eye on abortion rights here in the UK. With whisperings that what happened in America – the toppling of Roe v Wade, which left a 10-year-old denied an abortion – could happen here, especially if Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party makes it into power at the next election.

While nothing is guaranteed, it’s a scary thought – particularly as we made great strides with abortion care this year.

Continued: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a69468983/reform-uk-nigel-farage-abortion/

‘UK charity encouraged me to take controversial abortion reversal pill’

An undercover Times investigation reveals how US-inspired Christian activists are pushing dogma-driven medical, counselling and mental health services in the UK

Constance Kampfner
Tuesday September 23 2025

A little over a minute into my call with Rachel Mackenzie, one of Britain’s foremost anti-abortion activists, her voice tightens with urgency. “You had the pill last night — you can reverse it,” she tells me.

I have called her helpline to say that I am in early pregnancy and have taken one of two sets of prescribed abortion pills. I explain it is not the right time for me to become a mother, but that I am experiencing some doubts and am looking for advice.

Continued: https://archive.is/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/abortion-counselling-reversal-pill-investigation-f25hd20sd

Decriminalising Abortion in England and Wales

Five Strategic Lessons for Reproductive Freedom

Ruth Fletcher
21 July 2025

On 17 June 2025, British MPs took an important step in decriminalising abortion against a backdrop of rising prosecutions for ‘later’ abortion. Once the amended Crime and Policing Bill becomes law, people who voluntarily end their own pregnancies will be exempt from criminalisation. But, unless a further amendment is made, those good faith actors who provide abortion, or support others in getting access, remain at risk of criminal investigation. From a more holistic decriminalisation perspective, the Bill itself is problematic: it will be responsible for the kind of criminalisation of poverty and restriction of protest rights that makes reproductive life more difficult. Five aspects of the recent legal changes are worth emphasising as lessons for a strategic perspective on defending, and even expanding, reproductive freedom.

Continued: https://verfassungsblog.de/decriminalising-abortion-in-england-and-wales/

UK – Parliament takes a historic step toward decriminalising abortion—but the work isn’t over

The recent shake-up of abortion laws in England and Wales marks an important moment for abortion rights, but full decriminalisation remains essential

BMJ 2025; 389 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r1348 (Published 30 June 2025)
Jayne Kavanagh, co-chair, Hayley Webb, co-chair

We welcomed the passing of amendment NC1 in parliament on 17 June, which will put a stop to the criminalisation of anyone who ends their own pregnancy in England and Wales. This is a landmark step forward for reproductive rights and justice. In recent years, increasing numbers of women have been investigated and prosecuted under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act.1 This Victorian-era law was enacted before women even had the right to vote and carried a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for “unlawful abortion.”

More than 100 women are believed to have been investigated since 2020 for allegedly ending or attempting to end their pregnancies outside the parameters of the 1967 Abortion Act, which set out legal exemptions for abortion.2 Many endured distressing and intrusive investigations, faced enormous legal costs, and suffered lasting psychological, financial, and reputational harm—repercussions that also deeply affected their families.

Continued: https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r1348

Abortion laws in England and Wales face biggest shake-up in nearly 60 years

Parliament set to vote on decriminalising abortion, with rival amendments submitted by two Labour MPs

Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent
Mon 16 Jun 2025

Parliament is set to vote on whether to decriminalise abortion on Tuesday, in what would be the biggest shake-up to reproductive rights in England and Wales in almost 60 years.

Fierce battles have been fought behind the scenes, with Labour backbenchers Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy lobbying in an effort to have their rival amendments taken forward for a vote.

It is understood only one will be voted on, and with Antoniazzi’s being the lead amendment on the order paper, it is more than likely that hers will be selected.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/16/abortion-laws-in-england-and-wales-face-biggest-shake-up-in-nearly-60-years

Everything you need to know ahead of an important UK vote on abortion next week

Under a Victorian law, abortion is still technically illegal in the UK – here's what is happening to fight that

By Marie-Claire Chappet
12 June 2025

Many living in the UK may be unaware that, though abortions can be accessed safely and legally in this country, abortion is – at least technically – still illegal. This is because of a preexisting law from 1861, a legal quirk that an upcoming parliamentary vote hopes to resolve.

All abortions that take place in the UK are only available under the 1967 Abortion Act, which sets out certain parameters – such as the time period in which one can have a termination and that requests must have medical approval. This means that any abortion which happens outside of these restrictions is a criminal act, subject to lengthy jail time. The 1861 law serves as the legal framework. The 1967 act is the exception.

Continued: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a65034495/uk-vote-on-abortion/

12.06.2025