POLLY VERNON
COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR
LATER THIS MONTH, MPs will vote on decriminalising abortion in the UK. As things stand, abortion is legal in most of Britain within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, if approved by two doctors. Since the pandemic, women seeking a termination earlier than 10 weeks can get the medical abortion pill sent to their homes, where they may have their abortion, privately, in circumstances that work best for them. Outside of those parameters, abortion is still considered a criminal act, punishable by prison.
I used to think decriminalising abortion was merely an ideological necessity. I’m a passionate defender of abortion rights, a passionate demolisher of the stigma attached to abortion. More recently, I’ve realised this isn’t about lofty ideologies at all. It’s about desperate realities.
This is partly because of what’s happening in the US. Since Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022 by the Supreme Court, 24 American states have enacted limitations on abortion; in 14 states, these amount to bans. While the UK is, I think (hope, pray) unlikely to follow suit – a 2023 YouGov poll found 87% of respondents squarely onside with abortion rights – the decriminalisation of abortion here would stand in glorious, progressive opposition to the US’s ugly, deadly, repressive roll-back. Even more vitaly: decriminalisation would put an end to the leap in investigations of British women suspected of illegally ending pregnancies. Until 2018, there were pretty much none, according to leading abortion provider MSI; since, MSI has been aware of around 60.
Women are being investigated for giving birth prematurely – after enquiring about abortions, then changing their minds and proceeding with pregnancies. One was investigated for taking the pills when she believed herself to be seven weeks pregnant; it wasn’t until she went into labour and delivered a stillborn baby that she realised she was beyond 24 wee
