The inconsistency of UK laws in recognising unborn babies’ lives
Most people who have been through the heartache of miscarriage, or know someone who has, would welcome Parliament’s recent moves to recognise both the humanity of babies lost before birth, and the grief parents go through:
- Bereavement leave for parents of babies lost through miscarriage before 24 weeks, under The Employment Rights Bill passed under Labour Government in July 2025
- Baby loss certificates extended for parents of babies lost before 24 weeks, voluntary scheme introduced under Conservative Government in February 2024
Yet in stark contrast to this, the same Government completely ignored the pleas of some MP’s to consider the unborn baby, when they voted in favour of “decriminalising” abortion up to birth in June 2025. If approved by the House of Lords, women will be able to abort their babies beyond 24 weeks - even during labour - without any legal consequences.
In effect this Government has declared through its voting that:
“We recognise unborn babies are living human beings and valuable, but we want to allow mothers the right to kill these same babies should they so wish.”
What has this Government really voted for in “decriminalising abortion”?
MP Tonia Antoniazzi’s radical amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would make it legal for women to perform their own abortions - without medical oversight or legal consequence - at any stage of pregnancy and during birth. NC1 [now Clause 191] was tabled under the guise of “decriminalisation”.
Decriminalising abortion would permit:
- Abortions up to birth, for any reason
- Sex-selective abortions
- Backstreet abortions without medical oversight
- Partial-birth abortions
- Infanticide
There is some confusion about how this vote will impact abortions in practice. Here are responses to some of the misinformation being peddled by the pro-abortion lobby through pro-abortion MP’s and Media outlets:
1. “The law on abortion won’t change—the limit will still be 24 weeks.”
The limit only means something if there’s a law to enforce it. If abortion is decriminalised, that limit is just a number on paper—there’s nothing to stop late-term abortions happening whenever someone wants one. Women can legally acquire pills by post and self-administer abortion drugs at home, killing their babies up to the point of birth.
2. “We need to protect women from being investigated after miscarriage or stillbirth.”
Miscarriage is not a crime and never has been. The law only applies when someone deliberately ends the life of a baby. Taking away the law confuses that and removes the only protection unborn children have.
3. “Women are being imprisoned just for having abortions.”
That’s simply not true. In the UK, prosecutions are extremely rare and only happen in extreme late-term or unsafe cases. Decriminalising means opening the door to dangerous, unregulated abortion right up to birth.
4. “The criminal law is outdated and based on Victorian values.”
Protecting innocent human life is not outdated. Murder laws are Victorian too—does that make them irrelevant? Justice doesn’t go out of fashion when it comes to protecting the vulnerable.
5. “Around 100 women have been investigated for abortions in the last 5 years—they shouldn’t be dragged from hospital beds into police stations.”
The police only investigate when there’s evidence of a crime—like late-term abortion or a baby being harmed. The rise in cases is because of pills-by-post: women don’t receive ultrasounds or in-clinic consultations, so some take the pills far later in pregnancy without realising. That creates tragedy, not protection. The real problem is pills-by-post, not the law that stops late-term abortions.
6. “This is about trust—women should be trusted to make their own decisions.”
We trust women, but the issue isn’t just about one person. Every abortion involves two lives. Trust has to include protecting the most vulnerable person in the situation—the baby who has no voice.
This isn't about safety or care; it’s a dangerous move that strips away all protections for women and their unborn children.
Why is the Labour Party pushing for full decriminalisation of abortion?
Labour calls this amendment a “win for women’s rights” and “healthcare freedom.” Yet the evidence shows that it will cause fatal harm to unborn children, as well as serious harm to women and society. Despite this, the party continues to expand abortion, protecting the abortion industry while vilifying those who seek to defend women and their children. The roots of this approach may lie in the Fabian Society, a group that has influenced Labour policy for over a century, with many MPs among its members. Read more about the Fabian Society here.
Does abortion harm women?
If women are bereaved by miscarriage, how much more can they be bereaved by abortion?
Statistics show other harmful effects abortion has on women:
- 1 in 17 women who use the abortion pill at home will need hospital treatment for complications
- 33 women a day are admitted as inpatients to an NHS hospital for treatment of abortion complications
- There is an 81% increased risk of mental health issues following abortion
- Drug use is 250% higher among women who have had an abortion compared to those who have not
Further evidence of the harm abortion does to women can be viewed here.:
We have presented this evidence to some pro-abortion MPs and they have ignored it.
Whilst some MPs may not know about these harms, others like Stella Creasy, know and don't care.
If you have been harmed by abortion, there is support available. You can visit PASE (Post Abortion Support for Everyone).
Does abortion kill a baby?
If we are honest with ourselves - we all know that a baby dies in miscarriage. Therefore, in abortion the baby not only dies, but intentionally so. Often this is not just at the will of the mother - but there can be outside pressures from the father, family, friends and often even doctors - especially when there is a “fetal abnormality”.
Click here to learn about human development in the womb.
Click here to see the tragic reality of abortion.
What can you do as an MP or Peer?
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If you are an MP or a Peer, it's not too late to protect women and children by voting to remove clause 191 when the Crime and Policing bill amendments are debated in each House. Please read and share with your colleagues the briefings below:
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What can you do as the general public?
The debate has moved to the House of Lords. Now more than ever, Peers need to be made aware of the full legal implications of Clause 191 and the harm it will cause to women and their children. They must be encouraged to remove it from the bill.
Write to Peers in the House of Lords, click button below for template email on SPUC website: (make sure you edit your template to include information from this page)
Find out how your MP voted and contact them urging them to vote against clause 191 when the Crime and Policing bill returns to the House of Commons.
A Government petition has been setup to protect babies in the womb who have a heartbeat, please sign and share:
For support after abortion visit PASE (Post Abortion Support for Everyone)