UK MPs are set to vote on decriminalizing abortion in England and Wales this summer, with two Labour MPs proposing amendments to a government bill. The move follows previous attempts that ran out of time before the 2024 general election.
The 1861 law criminalizes women who “procure their own miscarriage,” though a 1967 law allows abortion up to 24 weeks under certain conditions. Campaigners argue that the outdated law needs reform, especially after parts of it were repealed in Northern Ireland in 2019.
The proposed amendments would be debated in the House of Commons in the coming months, likely before the summer recess. However, the Labour government is not expected to support the proposals, and MPs will likely be given a free vote.
While some MPs have opposed decriminalization, citing concerns about late-term abortions, others, like Creasy, want stronger legal protections against future restrictions.
