⚠️ Debate tomorrow: Public Order Bill returns to the Commons

Dear SPUC supporter,

As I emailed last week, the Public Order Bill, which contains a clause introducing so called buffer zones around abortion centres, is returning to the House of Commons tomorrow, 7 March.

Now, pro-life MPs have tabled two amendments to the Clause – one that would make it clear that silent prayer would not be banned, and one that would require the Government to carry out a new review before introducing buffer zones.

Please write to your MP asking them to speak out against buffer zones, and to back these amendments.

(If you have already written to your MP, please consider sending a brief follow up about the amendments).

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. The buffer zones Clause will be debated as Lords Amendment 5.

Amendments in the name of Andrew Lewer MP and others have been tabled to this. One amendment would call for a review of this proposal before it is brought into force, and the other would specify that silent prayer is not made illegal.

While it is very unlikely that non Government amendments will be voted on, 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 no choice but 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. (We have edited the template to include information about the pro-life amendments)

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.