Thank you for contacting me about amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to decriminalise abortion.
I recognise the strength of your views about amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill – particularly those put forward by Tonia Antoniazzi MP and Stella Creasy MP - which would mean that women would no longer be criminalised under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929.
As you may be aware, New Clause 1, tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi MP was supported by a majority of MPs and has been added to the Crime and Policing Bill. However, MPs rejected Stella Creasy’s New Clause 20, which sought to repeal the criminal law relating to abortion and introduce a “human rights-based framework” for future regulations.
The updated version of the Crime and Policing Bill will now be scrutinised by Peers in the House of Lords, who I am sure will be carefully considering the implications of the amendment on abortion law that has been approved by MPs.
I recognise that this is a very sensitive and emotive issue, and I respect that constituents in Beverley and Holderness will have very different viewpoints. The Opposition has long treated abortion as a ‘free vote’ issue – which means MPs can vote with their conscience and not compelled to follow a party position.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.