On June 17, 2025, Members of Parliament (MPs) in the U.K. are expected to vote on a significant reform of the country’s abortion laws. This change aims to end the controversial prosecution of women who terminate their pregnancies, particularly those who do so outside the current legal framework.
Background of U.K. Abortion Laws
Under the existing laws, abortion is a criminal offense in England and Wales under the Offences Against the Person Act, passed in 1861. This law carries a potential life sentence for women who terminate their pregnancy without following the conditions set by the Abortion Act of 1967.
According to this Act, abortions are allowed up to 23 weeks and six days if performed by an authorized provider. In certain cases, such as when a mother’s life is at risk or there is a severe disability in the unborn child, abortions can occur beyond 24 weeks.
Recent updates during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed women to take abortion pills at home up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Despite these adjustments, the law has continued to attract attention due to several high-profile court cases.
Tonia Antoniazzi’s Proposal
The proposed amendment to the law is introduced by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi. She seeks to ensure that no woman would face criminal charges for terminating her pregnancy at any point.
Antoniazzi’s proposal is designed to end the distressing and sometimes unlawful prosecution of women who end their pregnancies, especially in cases where they do not meet the strict requirements of the existing law.
According to Antoniazzi, women in the U.K. have been arrested and even imprisoned for ending their pregnancies. Some have even faced criminal investigations while in hospitals or police cells. “My amendment would put a stop to this,” Antoniazzi stated, emphasizing that this was a timely change.
The proposed change would not alter laws around the provision of abortion services or time limits, but it would decriminalize the act of terminating a pregnancy by women themselves.
Controversial Court Cases and Support for the Change
This issue gained national attention following recent court cases. In one instance, a woman named Nicola Packer was acquitted after taking abortion medication at 26 weeks, which was beyond the legal limit for at-home abortion pills.
The trial lasted four years, and Packer explained that she had not realized how far along she was in her pregnancy. In another case, Carla Foster was jailed in 2023 for obtaining abortion pills illegally when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant. However, her sentence was later suspended after an appeal.
The controversial nature of these cases has led to widespread calls for reform. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, however, strongly opposed the amendment, calling it “the greatest threat to unborn babies in decades.”
Despite this, over 50 organizations, including medical colleges, abortion providers, and women’s rights groups, have expressed strong support for Antoniazzi’s proposal.
Widespread Political Support
More than 140 MPs from across the political spectrum have publicly backed the change, highlighting its broad appeal. The proposal is expected to receive a free vote in Parliament, meaning MPs can vote based on their personal views, rather than following party lines.
Antoniazzi is optimistic about the outcome of the vote, believing that the Commons will support the amendment.
Impact on Abortion Law in the U.K.
If passed, this amendment will mark a significant shift in the U.K.’s approach to abortion law. While it would not affect the time limits on abortion or the provision of abortion services, it would end the criminalization of women who seek abortions beyond the current legal scope.
Additionally, those who assist women in obtaining illegal abortions would still face prosecution, keeping the law’s current safeguards in place.
The vote on June 17, 2025, could lead to a historic change in the U.K.’s abortion laws, reflecting shifting attitudes towards women’s rights and reproductive freedoms. With growing support from across the political spectrum and backing from a wide range of organizations, the amendment proposed by Tonia Antoniazzi may pave the way for a more compassionate and practical approach to abortion law in England and Wales.
