National abortion buffer zones law coming after measure backed in Lords

Censorship zones could soon be made mandatory around abortion clinics in England and Wales, after a vote in the House of Lords last night.

Peers approved an amendment to the Public Order Bill designed to introduce a national buffer zones policy. An attempt to strip the buffer zones clause out of the legislation was defeated.

Parliamentarians reached a decision on the matter after a lengthy debate, during which several Peers raised concerns about a threat to freedom of expression.

Lord Weir raised concerns about making pro-life advocacy near abortion clinics a criminal offence, saying that “surely at the heart of the concept of freedom of speech, and the value of democracy, is the peaceful way in which people try to persuade others of their point of view?"

Baroness Fox, who describes herself as pro-choice, also opposed the introduction of a buffer zones law saying women “must be free to change their mind at any time and in any direction, up until either termination... It is not coercive if you think again".

Other peers including Lord Farmer and Baroness Hoey argued that there is no evidence to support the need for a buffer zones law because harassment or intimidation of women outside abortion clinics is already dealt with under existing legislation.

Catherine Robinson, of pro-life group Right To Life UK, commented:

“This amendment is nothing short of the criminalisation of a particular point of view. It makes it illegal to be publicly, and even privately, pro-life in a certain part of the country."

She added: "In all likelihood, this poorly thought-through piece of legislation will be passed by the House of Commons and result in a series of court cases because it is not clear, in a case of silent prayer for example, whether an individual is breaking the law or not.”

“This legislation is an instance of the abrogation of responsibility since it will ultimately be the decision of a particular judge to set the precedent for the correct interpretation of the law.”

The vote came after abortion giant MSI Reproductive Choices UK reported unprecedented demand for abortions among British women.

The group saw 47% more women in the first two weeks of 2023 than over the same period in 2022 and completed 51% more phone consultations, which are the first step towards abortion.

It blames the economic downturn for the situation, saying it has sparked concerns over the affordability of raising a child. MSI profits will rise as a result of higher demand.