Public Order Bill returns to the Commons

Dear SPUC supporter,

The Public Order Bill, which contains a clause introducing so called buffer zones around abortion centres, is returning to the House of Commons on 7 March.

Please write to your MP asking them to speak out against buffer zones.

What is happening?

On 18 October 22, MPs voted by 297 votes to 110 to add an amendment tabled by Stella Creasy MP introducing so-called buffer zones to the Public Order Bill. 

It was then debated several times in the House of Lords, where many Peers from across the House, and with different views on abortion, spelt out how it threatens free speech, harms vulnerable women, and criminalises people for the simple act of offering a leaflet. 

Despite these concerns, an amended version of the Clause (introduced by Baroness Sugg) was approved on 30 Jan 2023.

The Public Order Bill is returning to the House of Commons on 7 March. Unfortunately, all that MPs will be voting on is the changes made in the Lords – so whether to accept the amendments by Baroness Sugg to the original Stella Creasy clause.

While it is now very unlikely that the buffer zones clause will be dropped from the Bill, this is a vital opportunity for MPs to speak up on this issue.

What does the clause do?

Baroness Sugg’s amendment makes it an offence to engage in any act which has the effect of “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services”. A person guilty this offence is “liable on summary conviction to a fine”. While this is a slight improvement to the original intention to jail people for up to two years, such fines are unlimited.

This legislation is an outrageous assault on civil liberties. Ordinary, peaceful citizens will now be branded criminals and subject to crippling financial penalties for the simple act of praying in public, and offering help to women in need.
Buffer zones also remove a real lifeline for women. Many children are alive today because their mother received help and support from a compassionate pro-life person outside a clinic. Many women feel like they have to choice to have an abortion, and pro-life vigils give them options. Now their choices have been taken away.

What can I do?

We cannot let this illiberal and cruel measure pass without protest. Write to your MP now expressing your anger at this abuse of law, and ask your MP to speak up. To help you do this, we have created an easy to use webtool. Entering your postcode in the Write to MP tool will bring up who your MP is, together with an editable email template.

Edit the email template to make it your own and press submit. Your email will be automatically sent to your MP.

Please edit the template if you can – MPs take far more notice of personal messages.

Thank you for campaigning with us.