MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in biggest change to reproductive rights in decades
Independent2 days
UK Lawmakers Vote to Decriminalize Abortion
Above: Protesters from the pro-choice group 'Abortion Rights' gather near Parliament on June 17, 2025, in London. Image copyright: Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images
The Spin
Conservative narrative
The British Parliament has committed a profound moral betrayal, rushing through radical abortion decriminalization with shameful haste. This reckless decision abandons vulnerable women to dangerous DIY procedures while stripping away vital protections for unborn children. After mere hours of debate, MPs have legitimized late-term killing and placed countless lives at unprecedented risk. This represents society's tragic failure.
Progressive narrative
The British Parliament has delivered a triumphant victory for women's freedom, finally abolishing Victorian-era criminalization that terrorized vulnerable mothers. This historic 379-137 vote liberates women from prosecution fear while ending the barbaric spectacle of miscarriage investigations. Although incomplete, this courageous step toward reproductive justice marks Britain's overdue recognition that healthcare decisions belong to women, not the courts.