The UK is considering a bill that would remove criminal penalties for women who end their pregnancies at any stage, including late-term abortions up to birth. The provision, known as Clause 208, is part of the Crime and Policing Bill currently in its final stages in the House of Lords and could be voted on as soon as Wednesday.
Clause 208 Would Remove Criminal Liability for Women
Under Clause 208, women in England and Wales could not be investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy at any gestational age. The current legal limit for most abortions is 24 weeks, with exceptions allowed for medical necessity beyond that point. However, the bill exempts women themselves from criminal liability regardless of when they have an abortion, though medical professionals performing late-term abortions without medical necessity could still face prosecution.
Amendments and Legislative Process
The bill will return to the House of Commons after the House of Lords vote for any final amendments before receiving Royal Assent. Proposed amendments include removing Clause 208, narrowing its scope to exclude late-term abortions, and requiring in-person medical consultations instead of allowing remote “pills-by-post” services.
Opposition from Pro-Life Groups
Shawn Carney, CEO of the international pro-life organization 40 Days for Life, criticized the bill as “insane” and warned it could set an “unfortunate trend throughout Europe.” Carney stated that most European countries limit abortion to 12 weeks, with England allowing up to 24 weeks in some cases, making the move to permit abortions up to birth unprecedented.
Carney argued the bill disregards medical viability standards, which generally recognize survival outside the womb from around 20 to 24 weeks, and called the proposal “a desire to kill” rather than a medical necessity. He expressed concern the bill would reduce the stigma around earlier abortions by normalizing late-term ones, even if abortions near birth remain rare.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.
