Advice to Matt Hancock on ‘DIY’ home abortions was ‘misleading’ says former Marie Stopes global director

May 20, 2020 by

from Christian Concern:

Misleading evidence was used by abortion providers and their allies in the civil service to strong-arm the government into allowing home abortions, the High Court has been told.

In today’s High Court hearing, Michael Phillips, representing Christian Concern, has argued that civil servants failed to give Matt Hancock honest and impartial advice, and instead presented skewed evidence that led to a dangerous and anti-parliamentary U-turn.

Despite assurances to Parliament that home abortions would not be permitted under lockdown, the government changed course on 30 March while Parliament was shut down. Lord Bethell, on behalf of the government had previously told Parliament that in-person visits were an ‘essential safeguard’ for women.

Documents shown to court reveal that Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, saw the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to ask for what BPAS wanted anyway: to expand abortion provision into women’s homes. Discussions between abortion providers and the DoH took place in March, culminating in the publication of a new policy on 23 March.

The new regulations permitting ‘DIY’ abortion were initially published just before national lockdown but were pulled hours later. Evidence given to court suggests that the policy was signed off by Health Minister Helen Whately without Mr Hancock’s approval.

The Health Secretary made his opposition to the policy clear the following day, saying “The change is not happening”.

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