On Saturday, 7,000 pro-life campaigners of all ages attended the Freedom to Live 2023 march.

The group processed through Westminster praying, singing and dancing and finished in Parliament Square to hear from a series of speakers.

This was the 9^th annual march organised by March for Life and according to police estimates, the number of campaigners matched the turnout at the previous years’ march, despite train strikes.

Speakers from ADF, The Life Training Institute and others spoke to the crowds gathering in Parliament Square to the sound of pro-abortion supporters in a counter protest.

The co-founder of the event, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce – who had previously been arrested for peacefully praying outside an abortion centre – took to the stage to share her experiences.

The event began at the Emmanuel Centre in the morning. After some all-age activities, and a training session on engaging with the public, the crowd moved to the streets.

Leaders across several Christian denominations stood in solidarity of the demonstration, with some speaking to the crowds from the temporary stage erected for the occasion.

Leaders included, Catholic bishops John Sherrington, Richard Moth and John Keenan; Mgr Keith Newton of the Ordinariate; Anglican priests; Rev Calvin Robinson from the Free Church of England; and Regan King from the Angel Church.

According to attendees, the most moving input from the day came from a young woman named Ellie who faces the regret of having three abortions. She told the crowd: “I think I can speak for every post-abortive woman stood here today that abortion didn’t grant us freedom but made us captives in one way or another.”

March for Life promise to march again in September next year. To mark their 10^th anniversary, they hope to gather 10,000 supporters.