The United Kingdom has taken a controversial legislative step after the House of Lords passed Clause 208 of the Crime and Policing Bill, removing criminal penalties for women who perform their own abortions—even beyond the current 24-week limit and potentially up to birth. While the law does not formally change the existing legal limit, critics warn that removing enforcement effectively opens the door to self-administered, late-term abortions without legal consequence. The measure has sparked strong opposition from pro-life groups, medical professionals, and religious leaders, who argue that it weakens protections for both unborn children and vulnerable women.

Opponents of the legislation have raised serious concerns about the implications of the change, including increased risk of coercion, unsafe medical practices, and the normalization of abortion at the latest stages of pregnancy. Critics also point to the expansion of “pills-by-post” abortion access, which allows individuals to obtain abortion drugs without in-person medical consultation. Despite widespread public opposition—polling suggests a large majority of Britons do not support abortion up to birth—the measure advanced through Parliament with limited debate, further intensifying concerns about the direction of public policy and moral standards.

SOURCE: ExposeNews