UK Divided Voices: UK Abortion Law Faces New Reckoning Amid Rising Activism

[Social Media]

 

Divided Voices: UK Abortion Law Faces New Reckoning Amid Rising Activism

 

As Parliament prepares to vote on two pivotal amendments to abortion legislation, the longstanding debate over reproductive rights in the UK has surged back into public consciousness. While polling shows the majority of Britons remain pro-choice, anti-abortion activism has been invigorated by political developments across the Atlantic, especially under the influence of the Trump administration.

 

In Birmingham’s city centre, a small but diverse group of people recently gathered in a quiet vigil. Among them were older community members, students, friends, and families, forming a scene marked by candlelight and rosary beads. Hymns echoed through the square, revealing a protest against abortion, a reflection of a growing, if still minor, movement challenging the status quo.

 

Despite nearly 90% of the UK public identifying as pro-choice, the anti-abortion movement has gained momentum. Activists, both young and old, are finding renewed energy, with some taking cues from the reversal of Roe v Wade in the United States nearly three years ago—a seismic moment that legalized abortion bans across several U.S. states. That political shift has inspired similar ideological battles on UK soil.

 

One flashpoint in this debate has been the UK's introduction of abortion clinic buffer zones—areas around clinics where police can prevent harassment of patients. US Vice President JD Vance recently criticised these zones, citing the case of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a longtime anti-abortion campaigner. Vaughan-Spruce, who has spent two decades distributing leaflets outside clinics, now returns weekly to silently pray due to the restrictions. In 2022, she was arrested for praying silently near a clinic. Though charges were dropped, she later received £13,000 in a civil claim against West Midlands Police, who did not admit liability.

 

“They actually asked me what I was doing, and I said, well, I'm just physically standing here. I might be praying in my head, but nothing out loud. And on that basis, they made an arrest. I was heavily searched, I was taken to the police station, locked in a police cell for hours before being questioned under caution. And then, eventually, I went to court,” she recalled. “I believe that abortion centres are like the modern-day Calvary. This is where the innocent are being put to death.”

 

But for those like Ailish McEntee, who works at a London abortion clinic, such demonstrations are harmful distractions. She supports a proposed amendment that would decriminalise abortion for women seeking it up to 24 weeks. “The law itself works very well for the majority of people, but for those individuals in those kind of really high-risk domestic abuse situations... they maybe can't make it to a clinic, they might seek abortion care from those kind of unregulated providers,” she said. “So this amendment would take away that decriminalisation of women themselves. And it's a really strange part of the law that we have.”

 

McEntee also believes anti-choice rhetoric has been emboldened. “I think particularly in recent years, with Roe v Wade overturning and Donald Trump winning the election again, I think it's really pushed forward the anti-choice rhetoric that has always been there, but it's absolutely ramping up.”

 

A Sky News and YouGov poll found that 55% of the public support changing the law to prevent women from being criminalised for abortions before 24 weeks. However, 22% believe women should still face investigation or imprisonment for terminating a pregnancy after that period.

 

Labour MP Stella Creasy is among those proposing the amendment to decriminalise abortion. “There's no other health care provision that we see with a criminal foundation in this way and it has a very real practical consequence,” she argued. “We've seen some incredibly vulnerable women and girls who didn't even know that they were pregnant who have late-term miscarriages finding themselves with police officers rather than counsellors at their hospital beds... and I just don't think that's where the British public are at.”

 

Yet others, like Rachel from Rachel’s Vineyard UK, see the proposed changes as misguided. Her organisation, which helps people cope with what it calls the trauma of abortion, takes a moral and faith-based stance. “With all sudden deaths, whether you are 80 years of age or you're 26 weeks born, you know, out of the womb, and you've died, you've sadly died, we need to be able to investigate that. For us to have compassion, we need to have justice.”

 

As the Commons prepares to cast its votes, the country finds itself at a crossroads, balancing public support for reproductive rights against a vocal minority determined to challenge them.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Sky News  2025-06-18

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

“They actually asked me what I was doing, and I said, well, I'm just physically standing here. I might be praying in my head, but nothing out loud. And on that basis, they made an arrest.

 

Yes that's what happens when you oppose the "Liberal Progressives". 

 

You get arrested. For silent protest.

 

She should have donned a Keffiyeh, a balaclava, a Palestinian flag and openly called for the elimination of Israel over a loudspeaker. She'd have been left well alone. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

45 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes that's what happens when you oppose the "Liberal Progressives". 

 

You get arrested. For silent protest.

 

She should have donned a Keffiyeh, a balaclava, a Palestinian flag and openly called for the elimination of Israel over a loudspeaker. She'd have been left well alone. 

 

It might be an idea to add trigger warnings to OP’s in the forum.

 

Just about any topics whatsoever triggers  your perpetual off topic nonsense.

[Chomper Higgot]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Yet others, like Rachel from Rachel’s Vineyard UK, see the proposed changes as misguided. Her organisation, which helps people cope with what it calls the trauma of abortion, takes a moral and faith-based stance.

Rachel is entitled to her faith, she’s not entitled to impose it on others.

 

 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rachel is entitled to her faith, she’s not entitled to impose it on others.

 

 

 

Because it's the Christian faith, presumably.

 

[baansgr]

UK..the country of baby killers

[proton]

Abortion is murder, a woman's right to chose is when she has sex without contraception

[pimmmm]

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

UK..the country of baby killers

USA prefers to let them be born then shoot them while they're at school. 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Because it's the Christian faith, presumably.

 

No not at Jonny, all faiths.

 

Follow which ever you wish or non at all, up to you, but it’s got nothing to do with the choices other people make.

 

My apologies, I had no intention of triggering you.

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

UK..the country of baby killers

Back again with your lies.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, proton said:

Abortion is murder, a woman's right to chose is when she has sex without contraception

No abortion isn’t murder.

And women have a lot more rights to choose.

 

 

[James105]

The abortion law is/was a settled issue in the UK.   No party had any changes to abortion law in their manifesto.   Nobody was campaigning for a change in the law.   Labour have now effectively legalised abortion up to birth and this was after just a 45 minute debate in parliament and added to a bill that was effectively already passed so it will not face any further scrutiny nor do the public have any say on this.   

 

These people are shockingly evil.   

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, James105 said:

The abortion law is/was a settled issue in the UK.   No party had any changes to abortion law in their manifesto.   Nobody was campaigning for a change in the law.   Labour have now effectively legalised abortion up to birth and this was after just a 45 minute debate in parliament and added to a bill that was effectively already passed so it will not face any further scrutiny nor do the public have any say on this.   

 

These people are shockingly evil.   

Nonsense, abortion has not “been legalized up to birth”.

 

On the matter of ‘Abortion being settled law’ I take it that was an attempt at satire.

 

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No not at Jonny, all faiths.

 

Follow which ever you wish or non at all, up to you, but it’s got nothing to do with the choices other people make.

 

My apologies, I had no intention of triggering you.

 

No need to apologize Chomps, I wasn't triggered by your hypocrisy. Simply pointing it out.

 

You'd have no issue with a Muslim doing a call to prayer in public. 

[James105]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nonsense, abortion has not “been legalized up to birth”.

 

On the matter of ‘Abortion being settled law’ I take it that was an attempt at satire.

 

 

Yes, it has.   If something is decriminalized then it is effectively now legal, and yes that includes up to birth.   If a woman terminates her baby the day before she is due to give birth she will face no consequences, but if she terminates the baby after birth then that is murder and a life sentence.   

 

I said abortion law is a settled issue in the UK, which is why no party had any changes to abortion law in their manifesto, nor has there been any campaigns to change the law on this.   If you were from the UK you would know this.   

[TroubleandGrumpy]

The 'activists' who are against abortion are gaining traction and support - so they have to be shut down - that is the woke liberal feminist way.  But they will only gain them more support - it is inevitable that this 'delicate' issue is resolved one day - and it will be one day.

 

There is something clearly wrong with a law whereby a woman in her car on her way to legally terminate a baby's life then has an accident and the baby is killed - and the driver of the other car who made a mistake is charged with manslaughter for killing the baby.  That is it right there - that is the problem.  If a person can be charged for killing an unborn baby, then why can the baby's Mother or a doctor kill it without any legal problems. In one situation the baby has a legal right to live, and in the other one the baby has no legal right to live. 

 

IMO the only sensible way to deal with this matter is to either outlaw all abortions, or to make them legal in certain situations only - which is the obvious 'solution'.  The Law should be made such that a baby has no legal rights until the baby is 12 weeks old - and then after that time it does and the Mother/Doctor should by law only be permitted to terminate the baby's life because of medical reasons (Mother will die or the baby is severely handicapped). 16 weeks? 20 weeks?

 

Whatever is agreed by 'the experts' should be the cut off line for the baby to acquire legal rights to live.  If that is not done, then one day a case will go to the High Court and the likely decision will be that the baby has legal rights when 'life commences' - being when a heartbeat and brain functions are started.  That is the obvious time frame, because that is when death is officially determined - no heartbeat and no brain function.

[James105]

This is the monster that snuck in the amendment to a 380 page policing and crime bill to allow murder of a healthy, viable child the day before it is born without any proper scrutiny.   They always look like you would expect them to look don't they.   

 

[Photoguy21]

If they want to be a 304 get sterilised.

[proton]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No abortion isn’t murder.

And women have a lot more rights to choose.

 

 

 

Trust Chomper to be in favour of murdering babies!

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

The Law should be made such that a baby has no legal rights until the baby is 12 weeks old - and then after that time it does and the Mother/Doctor should by law only be permitted to terminate the baby's life because of medical reasons (Mother will die or the baby is severely handicapped). 16 weeks? 20 weeks?

In the UK life and all the rights to life begin at the moment of birth.

 

This idea of yours to withhold those rights until a baby is 12 weeks old is ridiculous.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Trust Chomper to be in favour of murdering babies!

Trust you to misrepresent my views and reality all in one very short sentence.

[proton]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trust you to misrepresent my views and reality all in one very short sentence.

 

You are in favour of abortion at any stage, that's murder plain and simple. The woman's choice ends at contraception, unless she has been raped.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, proton said:

 

You are in favour of abortion at any stage, that's murder plain and simple. The woman's choice ends at contraception, unless she has been raped.

 

 

Every singly word in your post is a fabrication of your own mind.

 

You are winding yourself up with your own imagination, let me know which side of you wins the argument you are having in your own head.

[brewsterbudgen]

Hmm, not many women contributing to this thread, I would guess!

 

Perhaps some of the men might want to read up on the reasons for the change.

 

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/53621/documents/4252

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Rachel is entitled to her faith, she’s not entitled to impose it on others.

Can't imagine any Muslims in favour of abortion.

A few more years and abortion will be banned completely.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

26 minutes ago, proton said:

 

You are in favour of abortion at any stage, that's murder plain and simple. The woman's choice ends at contraception, unless she has been raped.

 

 

I hear you, but I think there needs to be a line drawn as to when the fetus is a baby and has legal rights. It is certainly not 1 day after conception - although I do understand that to some people have a moral view that it does.  Given that religious laws are no longer in charge and secular laws are in charge, the majority of people do not want to go back to sharia law type controls. 

 

May I suggest to all people that do not agree with abortion, that any stance stating it should be totally outlawed from conception, because of their own moral/religious views, will never succeed in a secular law based society.  In fact, such an 'all or nothing' approach, will be used by the woke liberals to attack any change to make it illegal.  The only likely successful approach to legally banning abortions, is to draw a line as to when a baby officially gains legal rights. When that line is drawn, then abortions after that time will be illegal unless they meet strict medical reasons. Yes it is not perfect and will be abused, but that is the best likely outcome.

 

In 1999 in Australia there was a referendum held to become a Republic. However, because the terms of the referendum did not spell out exactly how the new head of state would be selected, many people voted no. No matter how many times people like myself tried to tell others that it was a Yes or No decision now, and that how the Head was selected was for next time, people argued that they wanted the Head to be elected and others said they wanted a joint sitting of Parliament to decide.  Those people were 'distracted' and they lost the plot - they both wanted a Republic but they were distracted and the end result was a No vote for a referendum. There has been no mention of another referendum since then over 25 years later. 

 

IMO if those against abortion try to force the issue and make all abortions illegal, they will be targeted by the woke liberals as religious nutters and the majority of people will be 'distracted' and not agree with any change.  However, the majority will probably however agree on a 'time limit' as to when an abortion should be legally allowed - meaning when the baby has legal rights. 

  

 

 

 

[James105]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

In the UK life and all the rights to life begin at the moment of birth.

 

This idea of yours to withhold those rights until a baby is 12 weeks old is ridiculous.

 

 

 

If you were from the UK you would know why the law is 24 weeks unless there is a medical reason for termination after that date.  The reason for 24 weeks (although medical advancements may suggest this could be 16 weeks) is that is the time where the child can live outside of the womb.  So the unborn child previously had a right to life 24 weeks after conception, now that right has been taken away.   The previous abortion laws were supported by the vast majority.   Labour had no mandate to change this.   

[Purdey]

Any anti abortion politician should be handed the baby after birth and told to care for it. Women have the right to decide whether to have an unwanted child or not. 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

No need to apologize Chomps, I wasn't triggered by your hypocrisy. Simply pointing it out.

 

You'd have no issue with a Muslim doing a call to prayer in public. 

Jonny, please present your evidence of me ever having made a comment about your triggered off topic Muslim call to prayer nonsense.

 

 

 

 

[Watawattana]

4 hours ago, proton said:

Abortion is murder, a woman's right to chose is when she has sex without contraception

Unless she is raped, in which case she doesn't have a lot of choice.  Unless, of course, you believe that rape is a women's choice?