Concerning assaults on free speech in Scotland

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Today is Day 2 of SPUC’s Summer Fundraising Appeal.

In case you missed it, I am re-sending my email from yesterday.

It identifies the two MOST URGENT THREATS to unborn babies in the UK: The Northern Ireland Regulations and “Buffer Zones” preventing eleventh-hour support.

A robust response to these horrific threats is urgently needed to combat:

1. Highest abortion rates ever seen in the UK

2. Soaring hospitalisation in post-abortive women

3. The unprecedented AND GROWING suppression of freedom of expression and assembly in the UK

Read on to learn more and see what action SPUC will be taking – funds permitting – to defend unborn babies and their mothers in the face of the Abortion Empire.
Dear Supporter,

The UK Government seems determined to impose abortion on Northern Ireland – regardless of what the people of the Province think.

On 22 June, Westminster MPs voted by 215 votes to 70 to back regulations that will allow the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to dictate abortion policy in the Province.

This is the second time that they had to vote for these regulations, after SPUC’s judicial review exposed terrible flaws in Brandon Lewis’ first regulations.

The fact that these new regulations are much tighter shows that our judicial review was a success – and that it delayed the implementation of the full-scale regime.

How many precious lives were saved as a result!

But following this second vote, the UK Government said it was prepared to act "very quickly" to bring about a rapid expansion in the provision of abortion in Northern Ireland.

The Abortion Empire doesn’t rest. But neither does SPUC.

In an eleventh-hour bid to STOP this abortion expansion, SPUC is seeking a SECOND judicial review to challenge the abortion regulations.

Meanwhile, unborn children may possibly have a reprieve.

Brandon Lewis resigned during the recent revolt against the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Under Lewis’ tenure, abortion advances in Northern Ireland were particularly aggressive and extreme.

Tragically, his successor Shailesh Vara has already signalled his allegiance to the Abortion Empire by saying that he has “a legal duty” – based on the United Nation’s CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) Report – to impose extreme and obscene sex education in Northern Ireland.

This same CEDAW report was the justification for the extreme abortion regime in Northern Ireland. Theresa May used the same excuse - but the Government has since admitted that there was no such obligation to implement these recommendations.

Nevertheless, the Government remains committed to its radical abortion agenda.

While Lewis was in charge, he was insisting on provision for 6,000-8,000 abortions per year in Northern Ireland, but a number of factors delayed his extreme abortion framework.

Health Minister, Robin Swann (UUP) valiantly spoke against Lewis’s abortion directions, saying they contradicted the Belfast Agreement – the constitutional document underpinning peace in Northern Ireland after 30 years of The Troubles.

SPUC’s legal challenges were key contributory factors in delaying the abortion regulations and saving thousands of lives.

SPUC’s legal team has called for the new Secretary of State to let the 2022 abortion regulations lapse, and to wait for the Court of Appeal to rule on SPUC’s initial challenge to the 2021 Regulations.

We have been challenging Lewis’ abortion regulations since he introduced them – and we are challenging the 2022 ones as well.

We believe that the Secretary of State is going well beyond his legal authority and overriding the terms of the devolution settlement.

Our case will be heard by the Court of Appeal in October. If it proves that the abortion regulations are illegal, then the directions to implement them will have to be completely withdrawn.

This is the very LAST chance to stave off an extreme abortion framework.

If we fail, it could trigger a domino effect which would almost certainly see abortions in the rest of the UK being pushed up too.

This latest legal action will cost in the region of £50,000-£60,000. This comes at a time when our finances are stretched to breaking point.

Would you be willing to give £20, £50, or £200 towards this crucial pushback against the Abortion Empire?
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But imposing abortion on an unwilling population isn’t all the Abortion Empire is doing.

They’re trying to take away any right to express disagreement too.

The Northern Ireland Assembly recently passed a bill criminalizing pro-life activities within “safe access zones” around abortion facilities. This bill is currently being challenged due to its alleged incompatibility with human rights legislation.

There is another proposed bill in Scotland which would also stifle freedom of expression and assembly.

The language used is disturbingly vague – it criminalises anyone “influencing” a protected person (i.e. a woman seeking an abortion, or an abortion facility employee) within these zones.

Astonishingly, the Department of Health will no longer have the right to determine the boundaries, duration and implementation of buffer zones: this is being given to the abortion providers themselves!

And unlike in England, there are no requirements for periodic review.

Even those who have no involvement in the pro-life movement are concerned.

The Northern Ireland Attorney General Dame Brenda King sent the legislation to the Supreme Court, concerned that it unduly restricts the right to peaceful protest.

This is because the Bill makes NO DISTINCTION between peaceful vigils and threatening behaviour and harassment.

In fact, Dorothy Bain QC – the Scottish Lord Advocate, who felt that she needed to intervene in Northern Ireland matters – argued that silent prayer can be even more psychologically harmful than noisy protests!

Ms Bain also referred to plans to introduce these buffer zones in Scotland. These plans include JAIL SENTENCES for peaceful pro-lifers who pray outside abortion facilities.

SPUC mobilised supporters to respond to the public consultation on this law, which closed at the start of August.

Nor are Scotland and Northern Ireland alone – Bournemouth and Merseyside councils are also trying to introduce these free speech and assembly restrictions.

These buffer zones DEPRIVE women of vital help.

Some women report still being unsure about the life-changing decision of abortion when they reach the clinic. There are many reasons why women consider abortion: sometimes someone is pressuring them into it, or they feel like the circumstances require it.

Abortion is presented as the only sensible solution to their problems, and many women report feeling as if they had no choice.

Pro-life vigils save lives - Jenny’s story

Jenny (not her real name) recounted her experience to SPUC:

“I never wanted to go through with an abortion, but I felt a lot of pressure from people around me who cared and offered it as a no-brainer solution.

“After taking the first pill – which I really didn’t want to do in the first place – I did a lot of research. The lady I spoke to, the nurse, I asked her, ‘If I don’t take that second pill, what will happen?’ She said, ‘Your baby will be deformed.’ Those were her words. She said, ‘Your baby will be deformed.’ No ifs or buts: that’s it.

“I used an excuse of a cigarette break to go outside and grab Julia (the Pavement Counsellor outside) and say, ‘This is the situation, I’ve taken the first pill, is it too late?’ I wanted confirmation of my research.

“And she gave me that confirmation.

“She said she’d known women personally who have gone through what I’ve been through and their babies have been absolutely fine.

"She said they’d provide me with a taxi, to just go straight to the Women’s Centre, where they would talk to me further and give me more help if needed. And they spoke to me about all my options, they were going to be there for me financially, they could have provided me with accommodation.

“I didn’t find any aggression from the pro-lifers outside Ealing Clinic – at all. I was very concerned when I was going there on both occasions that I would be faced with aggression and abuse, and placards in my face and all of that. But there was none of that.

“They just told me, we’re here if you need us.

“The potential introduction of buffer zones is a really bad idea, because women like me – what would they do, then?

“Not every woman that walks into those clinics actually wants to go through with the termination. There is immense pressure, maybe they don’t have financial means to support themselves or their baby, they feel like there are no alternatives.

“Pavement counsellors offer alternatives.

“I had my baby Shona almost a year ago. She’s an amazing baby, perfectly healthy.”

None of this would have been possible without the peaceful pro-life Pavement Counsellors keeping vigil outside.

And yet the Abortion Empire wants to stop you saving lives – and to impose JAIL SENTENCES on anyone taking part in life-saving vigils.

But it’s not just vigils that are at risk here.

Freedom of speech and assembly are under assault elsewhere too.

They’re attacking pro-life vigils today, but tomorrow they will expand further. Soon they will be coming for YOU.

We’ve seen university pro-life students attacked and harassed by pro-abortion radicals on campus – and we’ve seen their societies disaffiliated and no-platformed by student unions.

The pro-abortion media are also trying to stop SPUC from holding conferences and other events by putting pressure on venues.

How long before expressing any pro-life opinion is illegal?

Will clergy be able to speak on any moral issues at all?

And if it becomes illegal to express dissent against the Abortion Empire, why would we think that our right to express opinions on other topics would be protected?

This is the inevitable direction of travel unless we push back now.

Gillian Mackay, the pro-abortion MSP trying to introduce buffer zones in Scotland, has urged people from all over the world to respond to her consultation. This is why SPUC, in leading the fight for pro-life speech, has been urging our supporters to take part in the recent Scottish public consultation.

If we cannot offer help outside abortion facilities, countless unborn babies will DIE.

If the worst happens, these bills will become law in Northern Ireland and Scotland. This will have wider implications for the rest of the UK, and even elsewhere.

It is vital that we prepare for this NOW, because time will be of the essence.

In light of the threats to eleventh-hour support outside abortion clinics, it is vital that we radically scale up every other means available to speak out about abortion.

That’s why SPUC is taking pro-active steps NOW to address these problems.

SPUC’s Answer - Project Truth

SPUC has just finished our annual Project Truth Roadshow on the streets of 9 major towns and cities in Scotland.

Every year a team takes the pro-life message to the public square.
2022 Project Truth team.
This is VITAL for spreading life-saving information and linking up with new supporters.

Some women feel pushed into abortion because they don’t know what to do, and it seems like the path of least resistance. Project Truth equips the public with the facts – so that when troubles arrive, each person is already firm in his or her convictions.

In some cases, it opens up help and healing to those hurt by abortion, putting them in touch with support they never knew existed.

SPUC’s young team leave the Roadshow more confident and better equipped to discuss the topic of abortion and to promote the message of life.

If we want to see the same sorts of dramatic results in the UK as seen in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, this is the route to follow.

There are a clear set of steps which we must take in order to achieve these results. They will lead to positive changes in public opinion, and we will see a creative minority tilt the balance towards the side of life.

Adopting this public educational approach here on the streets of UK cities will lead to similar breakthroughs as in the USA.

You know well that SPUC is action-orientated and driven by results. For example, in recent years we have repeatedly faced down various attempts to impose buffer zones on councils.

Our successful and influential submission to the then-Home Secretary also prevented buffer zones from being introduced at a national level across England and Wales.

We know what works, and when to put the peddle to the metal and accelerate.

But if we are to fight back for babies, we need to turn this one-week summer roadshow into at least 6 weeks of street education.

Instead of training 20 young pro-lifers a year, we need to train 100.

Instead of visiting 9 towns and cities in Scotland, we need to bring this life-changing message to dozens of towns and cities across the UK.

But even a one-week roadshow is an enormous investment. It takes months of preparation and dedication, not to mention badly-needed funds.

At present, the whole operation is organised by one member of part-time staff.

If we want to get Project Truth scaled-up and ready to change hearts and minds, then we need to be able to cover costs for:
* A dedicated co-ordinator
* 100 young pro-lifers
* Training
* Travel
* Accommodation

The finance team have advised me that we need an extra £70,000 if we are to triple the number of cities we visit over the next year.

This is an URGENT project. If we don’t push back, take control of the narrative and emphasise the truth about life in the womb, the abortion fanatics will silence all pro-life opinions altogether.

If we want to scale this project up we have to start NOW.

Will you donate to help us bring the pro-life message to the heart of the UK’s major cities?

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A one-off gift at whatever level you can afford today will enable SPUC’s management team to sanction the crucial programmes that I have outlined today, and which are so critical for making abortion unthinkable.

Who knows, it could be your personal contribution to the campaign which saves a precious baby’s life, and spares a mother the terrible anguish of going through an abortion.

A monthly donation by Direct Debit of £5, £10 or £25 is another excellent way to help this happen.

Of course, with larger gifts of £100, £500 and £1,000, more can be done to defend babies, and help to achieve SPUC’s vision of a Britain where abortion is “unthinkable” more quickly.
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Yours sincerely
John Deighan
Chief Executive
PS: Unlike the emissaries of the Abortion Empire, we can’t rely on millions of pounds being sent to us by George Soros. Nor do we get Government handouts – SPUC relies solely on YOU for support.

Since becoming SPUC Chief Executive, I am constantly struck by the generosity and loyalty of the Society’s donors.

A recent analysis of our fundraising showed that the average donation of a SPUC supporter is double that of other UK charity/non-profit postal appeal donors.

Whether £10 or £10,000, I promise that your personal contribution to babies this month matters and will help defend precious lives in the challenging days ahead.
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