LogFAQs > #979001676

red_sox_777 posted...

Wait, was abortion illegal in the UK before this?

Oh boy!

UK abortion law is weird. Rather than just legalise it normally the 1967 and then 1990 acts that effectively legalised abortion in the UK provided exemptions to the 1861 act which made it legal on any grounds with two doctors agreement (also no limit on how many doctors you can ask so de facto legal on request) up to 24 weeks (the latest in Europe) and in certain situations after. So its a weird case where it is both legalised and not, because so much of British lawmaking is amending centuries old laws. You could technically be convicted if you had an abortion outside of these laws, though this only happened to three women in 160 years. However, in 2022 there was a sudden spike in prosecutions so now theres a push to get rid of the law. The current requirements would stay the same but abortion would be fully decriminalised so no women could be prosecuted for having an abortion.

As for how this can happen with the UKs current right wing government that couldnt organise a piss-up in a brewery, the amendment is being brought forward by Labour and I believe convention gives MPs a free vote on abortion, so enough Tories will vote for or abstain to let it pass through. The survey in the article shows half of the Tories supporting and half opposing while basically all of Labour support. Small parties such as the Lib Dems and SNP will all vote for too, except for Northern Irelands DUP who are nuts. So itll pass easily. Hopefully formal legalisation is next which will not physically change much but would be a good symbolic step.