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Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:16 am
by Son of Mathonwy
Contentious issue. While I'm pro-choice I am wondering if this has gone too far? If I understand this correctly, there will (if this makes it into law) be no penalty for abortion at any stage. So while it would be murder to kill a premature baby born at 8 months it is nothing to abort a baby of the same age. This doesn't seem right to me. Why do we protect babies, anyway? I know there are grey areas but at least under the current rules it the oldest aborted foetus would be extremely premature if born.

My feeling is that late abortion should at least be a civil offence.

On top of this, I'm concerned that this will be seen as liberal overreach etc. and provoke a backlash which will reduce abortion access in the long run.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... n-vote-mps

Re: Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:29 pm
by Which Tyler
My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.

Re: Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 9:28 am
by Sandydragon
Which Tyler wrote: Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:29 pm My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.
That’s my understanding too. You can’t just decide at late term to abort for no good reason. If there’s a concerns it’s possibly that if the weight of the law now falls on abortion providers, then women might revert to other methods, risking their own health but knowing that they won’t be prosecuted. I’m not sure how the law stacks up on that point.

Re: Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:26 pm
by Son of Mathonwy
Sandydragon wrote: Thu Jun 19, 2025 9:28 am
Which Tyler wrote: Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:29 pm My understanding (and I absolutely reserve the right to be wrong) is that it's still illegal outside of the existing frameworks, but IS now a civil offence, but more to the point, it's the person providing the abortion, rather than the expectant mother who faces criminal charges.
I understand that there were 3 amendments posted, and this was in the middle of the 3 for increasing rights.

And as for backlash, (usual NB about my understanding) is that it's a backlash against UK MAGAs being emboldened by the States ditching Roe v Wade.
Something like 3 prosecutions in 40 years, then 9 in 1 year.
That’s my understanding too. You can’t just decide at late term to abort for no good reason. If there’s a concerns it’s possibly that if the weight of the law now falls on abortion providers, then women might revert to other methods, risking their own health but knowing that they won’t be prosecuted. I’m not sure how the law stacks up on that point.
It's very unclear - from a look at some of the reporting - whether women are now completely free from legal consequences or merely from criminal consequences re abortions. My guess is completely free?

Re: Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:38 pm
by Sandydragon
This has the feeling of being very rushed, which is normally a bad attribute for legislation.

Re: Decriminalisation of Abortion

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:15 pm
by Eugene Wrayburn
Sandydragon wrote: Thu Jun 19, 2025 10:38 pm This has the feeling of being very rushed, which is normally a bad attribute for legislation.
I think they've had previous goes at this.

My understanding is that this prevents the prosecution of women. Doctors or abusive partners who are involved in a late term abortion would still be prosecutable.

I understand the worry about back alley abortions. However I'd have thought they are more likely to go for medication abortions past the recommendation which is relatively safe.

The MAGA type anti-abortionists can go fuck themselves. The only backlash is from them and the right wing loons who own the british press. Even the hard nuts in the CACD don't have the stomach for putting woman in prison for this.