from Right to Life
MPs speak out against abortion up to birth clause in the House of Commons
15 Apr 2026 News
The Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and the Father of the House have both expressed their strong concern about the abortion up to birth clause in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is set to become law.
On Tuesday 14 April, during a House of Commons session on the Consideration of Lords amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, Members of Parliament criticised Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment, clause 208, which would change the law so it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason, including sex-selective purposes, and at any point up to and during birth, likely leading to a significant increase in the number of women performing dangerous late-term abortions at home.
The Father of the House, Sir Edward Leigh, criticised the abortion up to birth clause along with an amendment that will pardon a woman who aborted her baby at 39 weeks, who was described by the judge as showing “no remorse” for her actions.
Sir Edward stated that it was “a terrible indictment of our society that a human life can be taken when it is about to be born, at 39 weeks, and that there should be a free pardon in such a serious case”.
Matt Vickers, the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, stated that he, and many other people throughout the country, shared these concerns.