In a major legal update, the UK has voted in favour of easing criminal penalties around abortions performed beyond 24 weeks. Under the new amendment, women who terminate their pregnancies after this point will no longer face criminal prosecution, though legal risks may still apply to medical practitioners involved in later-stage procedures.
This legislative shift, passed in the House of Commons with a commanding 370–137 vote, rolls back century-old criminal codes that dated back to the 19th century. It also reflects a strong national sentiment—according to a YouGov poll, nearly 9 in 10 people in the UK support a woman’s right to access abortion services.
Criminal Framework Loosened, Not Erased
Although abortion has been legally available in the UK since the late 1960s, it technically remained a criminal act under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. The 1967 Abortion Act allowed terminations up to 28 weeks, which was later reduced to 24. To this day, procedures require sign-off from two doctors and must meet specific medical conditions. Abortions past the legal cut-off have only been permitted in rare and critical circumstances.
Why the Old Law Faced Pressure to Change
Campaigners for reform argue that outdated laws are being used against vulnerable women. Six women have been prosecuted under existing rules in just the past three years. Abortions after 20 weeks account for under 2% of all cases and are often tied to sensitive factors—such as violence, mental health distress, or situations involving young girls whose guardians refuse consent.
“Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the anti-choice movement has grown louder—so it’s more important than ever for UK lawmakers to take a clear stance and ensure medical care is available to everyone who needs it,” said Louise McCudden of MSI Reproductive Choices.
What the New Policy Actually Does
The amendment, proposed by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, removes criminal liability for women who choose to end their pregnancies outside the legal limit. However, it does not fully decriminalise abortion; healthcare professionals still face legal scrutiny if the procedure breaches current clinical guidelines.
Antoniazzi stressed that many women facing prosecution had complex backgrounds—such as being victims of coercive abuse, trafficking, or unexpected premature labour. A separate motion to require face-to-face consultations before medical abortions was rejected.
Mixed Reactions from Public and Politicians
Not everyone welcomed the change. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children described the vote as “the most serious threat to unborn children and their mothers” since the original 1967 legislation. Some Conservative MPs, including Rebecca Smith, warned that easing laws now could lead to more relaxed rules in the future.
However, leading medical bodies voiced firm support. A joint statement from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and several rights organisations praised the update as a move toward aligning with other developed nations—like France, Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand—where women are no longer prosecuted for seeking abortions.
Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College, said plainly: abortion “should be governed by clinical standards, not criminal law.”
