A landmark parliamentary decision to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales has drawn strong criticism from Christian campaigners.
MPs voted 379 to 137 in favour of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which removes the threat of prosecution for women ending a pregnancy at any stage, including those who obtain abortion pills online.
While terminations up to 24 weeks still require the approval of two doctors, women seeking abortions beyond that period will no longer face arrest or prosecution.
Christian and pro-life campaigners have expressed grave concerns about the change.
Archbishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said: "We are deeply alarmed by this decision. Our alarm arises from our compassion for both mothers and unborn babies... This decision significantly reduces the protection of unborn lives and will result in grave harm for pregnant women. Women will be even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions. This legal change will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely... [It] will result in women being more alone, vulnerable, and isolated."
Caroline Ansell, Director of Advocacy and Policy at social policy charity CARE, said: “This outcome is truly heartbreaking. Parliament has taken an extreme and retrograde step that will pave the way for more, harrowing late-term abortions. The decriminalisation of abortion will place women at greater risk of trauma and hospitalisation.
“We believe that both lives matter in every pregnancy. Just societies protect both mothers and babies and provide holistic support to enable their flourishing.
Lord Alton of Liverpool said: “This hasty change will have profound implications for the way that longstanding law in this country will operate. We know that there are potential real risks for the safety of women in particular who will be encouraged towards DIY abortions. I expect that colleagues in the House of Lords will wish to scrutinise its provisions very closely and to amend it as necessary to make it safe.“
Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said:“Pro-abortion MPs have hijacked a government Bill to rush through this radical and seismic change to our abortion laws after just two hours’ debate.
“This is the first time this extreme abortion amendment has been debated in the House of Commons, and there has been no consultation with the public on this seismic law change.
“We will be fighting this amendment at every stage in the Lords.”
Dawn McAvoy, Both Lives UK lead, said: "This is not a victory for women – it is a tragic failure. The purpose of abortion law is to protect and support both lives in every pregnancy from toxic substances or dangerous operations.
Abortion should remain within criminal law because it involves the deliberate ending of a human life. Removing both lives in pregnancy from criminal law puts both lives at risk.
In effect, parliament have voted to facilitate dangerous backstreet abortions where dangerous, even late-term abortion is legitimised, and women are left more vulnerable than ever.
This is not healthcare, this is abandonment.”
— Fr Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) June 17, 2025
It's hard to take any consolation from today, but today did serve as a reminder that SPUC supporters always show up when called upon. Thank You to the many of you who contacted your MPs, those of you who even visited them in person, and those of you who joined us this morning at… pic.twitter.com/Vf7oWra1ny
— SPUC Pro-Life (@spucprolife) June 17, 2025
