A major change to abortion law has cleared the House of Lords this week, prompting fierce criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who warned that vulnerable women could be put at risk by what she described as a fundamental weakening of safeguards.
Peers voted on Wednesday night to support plans that would end criminal prosecutions against women who terminate their own pregnancies at any stage, including in the later stages of pregnancy. The move marks a significant departure from the existing legal framework in England and Wales, where abortion is permitted up to 24 weeks under specific conditions, with tighter restrictions thereafter.
The proposal, originally brought forward in the Commons by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, would mean that no woman seeking a late abortion would face prosecution, regardless of the circumstances or timing. The change now forms part of the wider Crime and Policing Bill.
Safeguards Removed, Critics Say
Badenoch has emerged as one of the most prominent critics of the reform, arguing that it removes what she called meaningful limits that previously governed a deeply sensitive area of law.
She said late-term abortions carry greater medical risk, describing this not as ideology but as clinical reality. She also warned that reducing oversight, particularly at later stages of pregnancy, could expose women to harm rather than protect them.
Her concerns extend beyond medical risk. Badenoch highlighted the issue of coercion, arguing that when safeguards are weakened, it is often the most vulnerable, not the most empowered, who are affected. Women in abusive or controlling relationships, she said, could face increased pressure in a system with fewer checks.
Her position reflects a broader argument that the law previously struck a difficult but necessary balance between a woman’s right to choose and the recognition of increased moral and medical complexity in later stages of pregnancy.
Amendment to Block Change Rejected
An attempt to halt the reform in the Lords failed. Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest tabled an amendment aimed at overturning what she described as a radical proposal, warning it would remove a key legal deterrent against unsafe abortions outside clinical settings.
Her amendment was defeated by 185 votes to 148, a majority of 37.
As a result, the legislation will effectively remove the ability to prosecute women under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 for ending their own pregnancies. In recent years, more than 100 women have been prosecuted under that law.
Medical professionals or others involved in facilitating abortions beyond the legal limit could still face prosecution, but the women themselves would not.
A Deeply Divisive Issue
The vote has exposed sharp divisions across politics, religion, and the public.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, interrupted a major pilgrimage to attend the debate, underlining the seriousness with which parts of the Church view the issue. She has previously warned that decriminalisation risks undermining the value placed on unborn life.
Badenoch, who describes herself as pro-choice, has drawn a clear line against abortion at the point where a baby is viable, arguing that allowing termination at the last minute goes too far.
She said that while choice is important, there must be limits, and that Conservatives are increasingly the only political force willing to define where those limits should lie.
Labour Accused of Forcing Through Change
Critics have also raised concerns about how the legislation has progressed through Parliament.
The proposal received limited debate time in the Commons, and opponents argue it was not clearly set out in Labour’s manifesto. There is growing anger among some that a change of this magnitude has been advanced without wider public scrutiny.
More broadly, there are accusations that Labour, having come to power amid a split in the right-of-centre vote, is now pushing through sweeping social changes with little restraint. The use of parliamentary mechanisms, including strong party discipline in key votes, has fuelled claims that controversial measures are being driven through with insufficient challenge.
For critics, this is not simply about abortion law, but about the direction of governance itself.
Public Reaction Intensifies
Reaction among sections of the public has been immediate and intense.
Online forums and comment sections have filled with criticism, with many describing the move as shocking and morally troubling. A recurring theme is the belief that Parliament is out of step with public opinion, particularly on an issue as sensitive as late-term abortion.
Others have echoed Badenoch’s concerns about risk, arguing that vulnerable women may be exposed to greater harm if legal deterrents and medical oversight are reduced.
While views remain deeply divided, the strength of feeling highlights the scale of the debate now unfolding.
A Defining Political Flashpoint
This reform is likely to become a defining political and cultural issue in the months ahead.
Supporters argue that decriminalisation protects women from outdated laws and recognises the complexity of individual circumstances. Critics insist it goes too far, removing essential safeguards and opening the door to dangerous consequences.
Badenoch’s intervention makes clear that the Conservative leadership intends to draw a firm line, framing the issue not as a question of ideology, but of responsibility, risk, and the protection of the vulnerable.
As the legislation moves closer to becoming law, the debate is only just beginning.
