Over 700 medical professionals are urging MPs to back a change in the law which would lower the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks.
In a letter to all 650 MPs, they call on them to vote in support of an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill tabled by a cross-party group of over 30 MPs, led by Christian MP Caroline Ansell. It would be the biggest change to abortion law for a generation and is informed by improved survival rates for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation. The letter states:
“A reduction to 22 weeks is a moderate change that ought to command widespread support, particularly in the context of the median abortion time limit among EU countries, which is 12 weeks gestation. As medical professionals, we, the undersigned, urge MPs to support this important amendment.”
A 24-week abortion limit is now beyond the point when many babies survive, double that of the most common time limit among European Union countries.
Other Christian MPs who are among those backing the amendment, include former health minister Maggie Throup, ex-shadow cabinet Labour minister Rachael Maskell, ex-shadow Labour minister Marie Rimmer, ex-home office minister Sir John Hayes, ex-Cabinet Minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Miriam Cates.
Originally set at 28 weeks, the abortion limit was lowered in 1990 to 24 weeks gestation. Improved survival rates for extremely premature babies between 24 and 28 weeks was one of the key considerations that motivated this change.
Research published in November 2023 by academics at the University of Leicester and Imperial College London indicates that a significant number of babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation can now survive outside the womb. According to this research, there were a total of 261 babies born alive at 22 and 23 weeks, before the abortion limit, who survived to discharge from hospital in 2020 and 2021.
Countries with 12-week limits for abortion on demand or on broad social grounds include Germany, Italy and Belgium as well as the more “liberal” Nordic countries Denmark and Finland. Sweden also has a time limit for abortion on demand or on broad social grounds that is much lower than the United Kingdom at 18 weeks.
Mischa from Surrey, mum to Amaya, who was born at 23 weeks and five days said:
“Our beautiful Amaya was born at 23 weeks and 5 days. She’ll be turning 3 years old in the summer and has come such a long way.
“The UK abortion law is out of date with medical science – my daughter is living proof of that. She’s a baby, just like others in the womb at 22 or 23 weeks. We hope to see this law changed to bring it in line with modern science so babies in the womb, the same age as my little fighter when she was born, are treated the same.”
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK Catherine Robinson said:
“The UK abortion time limit is double the average among EU countries, which is 12 weeks gestation, a point in pregnancy when the NHS website describes the unborn baby as ‘fully formed’.
“At the moment, a baby at 22 or 23 weeks gestation could be born prematurely and have a dedicated medical team provide expert care to try to save his or her life, while another baby at the same age could have their life deliberately ended by abortion in the same hospital at the same time. This is a contradiction in UK law.
"That’s why we need to support Caroline Ansell's amendment to lower the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks in line with advances in medical science.”
The full text of the letter from medical professionals to MPs and ministers reads:
'We are writing as medical professionals to express our support for Caroline Ansell MP’s amendment New Clause 151 to the Criminal Justice Bill that would reduce the upper time limit for abortion from 24 to 22 weeks.
"This amendment is long overdue in light of the increased numbers of babies born at 22 or 23 weeks who are now able to survive. In the decade to 2019 alone, the survival rate for babies born at 23 weeks doubled, prompting new guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) that enables doctors to intervene to save premature babies from 22 weeks gestation.
In 1990, the abortion time limit was reduced from 28 to 24 weeks gestation in reflection of medical and technological advancements that had resulted in improving survival rates for babies born before 28 weeks gestation. A reduction in the upper time limit to 22 weeks would be appropriate now given further medical advancements that have led to significant further improvements in survival rates for babies who are born before the 24-week abortion limit.
A reduction to 22 weeks is a moderate change that ought to command widespread support, particularly in the context of the median abortion time limit among EU countries, which is 12 weeks gestation. As medical professionals, we, the undersigned, urge MPs to support this important amendment."