British lawmakers have backed the most significant change to abortion law in decades, voting in favour of an amendment to decriminalise abortions up to the moment of birth. Under current British law, abortion is technically illegal. Still, it is decriminalised during the first 24 weeks of a pregnancy and in some limited cases beyond if the life of the mother is in danger. Over a quarter-million abortions take place legally in England and Wales under this system a year. However, on Tuesday afternoon, the MPs backed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill by a margin of 379 MPs in favour to 137 against to decriminalise abortions at any time for women in England and Wales, the BBC reported. This would effectively end the ability of the state to prosecute women who intentionally end their pregnancies up to the moment of birth. SPUC public policy manager Alithea Williams said: “If this clause becomes law, a woman who aborts her baby at any point in pregnancy, even moments before birth, would not be committing a criminal offence.” While MPs voted to add the Antoniazzi amendment to the Crime Bill on Tuesday, the legislation still needs final approval from both the Commons and the House of Lords before it becomes law. Great Britain is no longer great. The once mighty Britain has fallen.
British Lawmakers Vote to Decriminalise Abortion Up Until Birth:
