UK MPs Expected to Vote on Decriminalising Abortion Amid Opposition

In the UK, proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill seek to decriminalize abortion up to birth, provoking significant opposition from Catholic leaders and many members of the public. A Whitestone Insight poll found that 62% of UK adults oppose decriminalizing abortion after 24 weeks, with many considering abortion a matter of life and death warranting criminal law protection. Archbishop John Sherrington and other Catholic bishops have urged Catholics to oppose these amendments, warning that decriminalization could increase late-term at-home abortions and undermine protections against coercion. Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy have tabled competing amendments: Antoniazzi's would decriminalize abortion at any stage without sanction, while Creasy's would make abortion a human right up to 24 weeks. Antoniazzi argues the criminal justice system cannot be trusted with abortion law and that current laws are outdated, a view supported by medical bodies like the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The debate highlights a stark divide in UK society regarding abortion rights, with significant concern expressed about the potential health risks and societal implications of removing criminal penalties.