It comes after a landmark move by MPs in June last year to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy. Labour MP for Gower Tonia Antoniazzi, who brought forward the amendment, said she had been moved after seeing women investigated by police over suspected illegal abortions. Peers also rejected an attempt to overturn the decision by MPs to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy. The House of Lords rejected by 191 votes to 119, majority 72, a bid to move back to compulsory in-person consultations. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, opposed the decriminalisation of women terminating their own pregnancies, because it “risks making an imperfect situation worse”.

Source: The Herald March 19, 2026 14:08 UTC