PARLIAMENT VOTES TO DECRIMINALISE ABORTION – Amendment to crime bill ends prosecution of women for terminating pregnancies
In a deeply significant move, Britain’s Parliament has voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, raising serious concerns among Christian communities.
On Tuesday 17th June, lawmakers backed a proposal to end criminal prosecutions for women who terminate pregnancies under any circumstances, effectively stripping away legal penalties that have stood for over 150 years.
The amendment, passed by 379 votes to 137, would eliminate the threat of criminal charges against women, including those who seek to end pregnancies after the 24-week legal limit.
For decades, abortion in the UK has been allowed up to 24 weeks, with approval from two doctors. But women could still face life imprisonment if they went beyond that threshold, under laws dating back to the Victorian era.
While actual convictions have been rare, the number of women investigated has grown in recent years, especially after pandemic-era rules allowed abortion pills to be taken at home within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Supporters of the amendment say the change is necessary to protect women from outdated and traumatic legal scrutiny.
But many Christians and pro-life advocates warn this step could open the door to late-term abortions becoming more commonplace, and further erode the sanctity of life in British law.
The vote was open, meaning MPs were not bound by party lines but voted according to conscience.
As this legislation progresses, it marks a turning point in the UK’s approach to abortion—and raises fresh questions about how a nation balances personal choice with the protection of unborn life.
