Dear
SPUC supporter,
Amendments that would remove abortion from the criminal law have been tabled to the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill.
During the second reading of the Bill last night, pro-abortion Labour MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Stella Creasy both stated their intention to try and use it to liberalise abortion law. Both amendments have now been published.
Dame Johnson’s amendment, New Clause 1, states:
“For the purposes of the law related to abortion, including sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy.”
This would mean a woman could carry out her own abortion at any time, for any reason.
New Clause 2, tabled by Ms Creasy, is in some ways even more extreme. Ms Creasy also seeks to repeal section 60. This section deals with the crime of concealing the body of a dead baby who dies before, during or after birth.
What happens next?
It will not be known until shortly before the Public Bill Committee first meets when the amendments are likely to be debated. Under the Programme motion, the Bill has to be reported back to the House by 30 January 2024.
We strongly encourage you to contact your MP asking them to oppose these amendments, SPUC will shortly be providing help and guidance to do this. Please stay alert for more updates from SPUC regarding this.
We must and will fight these amendments.
Best wishes,
Alithea Williams
Public Policy Manager
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