by Alexander Stafford, The Critic
Like many observers, I was deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Commons last month that means it becomes legal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason up to and during birth. The fact that this radical proposal passed with so little scrutiny and a hefty majority was even more troubling. Even before this vote, we had some of the most permissive abortion laws in Europe.
When I was an MP, I very much considered myself to be a pro-life MP. My voting record on life issues attests to this. However, I also understand these are sensitive and complex issues, and during my time in Parliament, I encountered a wide range of deeply held views and positions on them.
I was very animated about the decision that Parliament took to make the “pills by post” service, introduced as a “temporary” measure during COVID, permanent. I and several Conservative colleagues predicted the problems that such a scheme would create, and sadly, our concerns have been vindicated.
I think it is important that we ask ourselves the question, How have we ended up with some of the most extreme and barbaric abortion laws in the Western world?