The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has come under robust criticism after it voted to back proposals to ‘decriminalise’ abortion throughout the UK.

The change to support the radical policy comes after the College surveyed its member’s views on the issue. Despite a membership of approximately 50,000 only 4,400 RCGP members responded to the survey.

Under the Offences Against the Persons Act (OAPA) (1861), abortion is illegal in just about every circumstance. But the 1967 Abortion Act sets out certain exemptions to the OAPA.

Advocates for more extreme abortion laws are putting pressure on the Government at Westminster to change the current law so abortion becomes available anytime, anywhere, for no reason.

Extreme proposals will harm women

Responding to the decision by the RCGP, Liz Parsons, Head of Advocacy at Life said: “The RCGP’s vote and its position today is an obvious attempt to support the abortion industry and their allies in parliament with their campaign to bring in abortion on demand in the UK.

“The removal of all legal scrutiny and regulation on abortion does not protect women. Rather, it leaves them more vulnerable to exploitation.”

Out of step with public opinion

Last year, CARE released polling which showed the majority of women in England and Wales do not want a more radical and extreme abortion regime.

The ComRes poll of 1,863 people in England and Wales revealed that when offered the choice of either the status quo, tighter restrictions on abortion or making abortion available on demand for any reason up to 24 weeks, just 21% of women and only 26% of men support the latter option. In total, 67% of women favour either the status quo or a more restrictive abortion regime.

These findings are supported by similar results from a major poll completed in 2017. It showed that the majority of British women want more, not fewer safeguards across a number of key areas.

For example, 91% of women agree that gender-selective abortion should be explicitly banned in law and 70% of women believe the current 24 gestational limit for abortion should be reduced.

The Prime Minister has also said she does not support proposals to introduce more radical abortion laws.

CARE’s response

CARE’s chief executive Nola Leach said: “It is deeply regrettable that the Royal College of General Practitioners should come out in favour of so called ‘decriminalisation’ of abortion.

“It is quite clear that removing safeguards and introducing a more radical abortion regime is out of step with public opinion and not the direction we should be going in.

“CARE will always seek to protect the rights of both the woman and the unborn child and will oppose any legislation that will put either of them at risk of harm.”

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