In the most significant reform to abortion legislation in England and Wales in nearly six decades, Members of Parliament have voted overwhelmingly to remove the threat of prosecution for women who end their pregnancies outside the current legal framework.
The amendment, introduced by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, passed by a majority of 242 votes—379 in favour and 137 against. It marks a pivotal change in abortion law, effectively decriminalising women who have abortions beyond the 24-week limit or outside authorised medical settings.
Under the existing law, abortion remains technically illegal under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, though it is permitted up to 24 weeks under the 1967 Abortion Act, and beyond that in exceptional circumstances. Antoniazzi’s amendment will remove the risk of criminal investigation for women, though those who assist them—such as clinicians operating outside legal bounds—may still face penalties.
“This is about recognising that women in desperate circumstances deserve care, not criminalisation,” Antoniazzi told Parliament. She cited the case of Nicola Packer, who was arrested and subjected to a four-year investigation after taking abortion medication later in her pregnancy, believing she was still within the legal 10-week window.
The vote, treated as a conscience issue, drew cross-party support and was backed by more than 50 organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which called the move “a victory for women and for their essential reproductive rights.”
The amendment does not alter the legal requirements for abortion care, such as the 24-week time limit, the need for two doctors’ approval, or the provision of medication via telemedicine. Rather, it ensures that women will no longer face criminal charges in cases where they end their pregnancies themselves.
A rival amendment by Labour MP Stella Creasy, which sought to go further by scrapping abortion-related clauses in the 1861 law and declaring abortion access a human right, was not put to a vote. Abortion providers including BPAS argued that Creasy’s proposal, while well-intentioned, was not the right vehicle for lasting reform.
Meanwhile, a separate amendment from Conservative MP Dr Caroline Johnson aimed at banning pills-by-post abortions was defeated by 379 votes to 117.
RCOG President Professor Ranee Thakar welcomed the outcome, saying it sent “a powerful signal that women’s rights and autonomy matter.” Campaigners hailed the vote as a long-overdue step forward, though the legislation must still pass through the House of Lords before becoming law.
However, anti-abortion groups expressed dismay. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) described the vote as “horrifying,” arguing that it removed vital protections for unborn children.
If passed into law, the amendment will bring England and Wales more in line with modern abortion frameworks in other countries, offering women greater legal protection during one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
