Category Archives: POLITICS

Abortion Decriminalised In England And Wales Following Historic Commons Vote

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Abortion has been decriminalised in England and Wales following a historic Commons vote.

MPs voted by 379 to 137 to amend the government’s Crime and Policing Bill so that it will no longer be a criminal offence for a woman to end her pregnancy at any time.

The amendment was tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower and passed following a free vote, meaning MPs did not vote along party lines.

What is the current legislation around abortion?

Abortions are currently legal in England and Wales as long as they are carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.

That’s different to the legislation already in place in Northern Ireland, where abortion has been enshrined as a human right since October 2019.

For the rest of the UK, a foetus is considered “viable” once it reaches 24 weeks – meaning it could survive outside of the womb if it had enough support.

That means an individual is only allowed an abortion after that point if their own life is in danger or the foetus is showing signs of abnormalities.

Two doctors must give their approval for the abortion to go ahead, agreeing it would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the individual in question rather than having an abortion.

Doctors may allow an abortion if birth would create a substantial risk to the child.

The Covid pandemic also meant the government allowed women to access pills in the post if they want to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks.

What did MPs just vote on?

MPs just voted in support of Antoniazzi’s amendment to remove women from the 1861 criminal law linked to abortion.

It means they would not be prosecuted under the act when it relates to their own pregnancy – even if they abort without medical approval after 24 weeks.

However, medical staff who assist would not be protected – although it is assumed the old law will fall out of use.

That means a rival amendment from fellow Labour backbencher Stella Creasy, who wanted to enshrine abortion as a human right, failed.

She wanted to change the law so neither pregnant people nor medical professionals would be able to be prosecuted for their involvement in abortions.

Her amendment aimed to create a new framework and introduce extra provisions to protect abortion laws in the future, but it did not have the backing of many major pro-abortion campaign organisations.

Why is abortion a particularly controversial topic right now?

Six women have appeared in court in England over the last three years and been charged with ending – or attempting to end – their pregnancy in breach of the 1967 Abortion Act.

This sparked outrage from protesters, who said the women had a right to act in relation to their own bodies.

It comes after a shocking poll from Ipsos this week found just 46% of 16 to 34-year-old men support abortion for people under-35.

There is also international pressure adding heat to the debate after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, a landmark ruling which protected abortion rights, in 2022.

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Kemi Badenoch Slammed For ‘Politicising’ Grooming Gangs With Press Conference

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Kemi Badenoch has been called out for “politicising” the grooming gangs after holding a new press conference on the scandal.

The Conservative leader and the shadow home secretary Chris Philp sat on a panel with some of the victims’ family members on Tuesday.

The meeting was a response to Labour’s sudden decision to call a national inquiry on grooming gangs.

The move stunned Westminster as the government previously accused any politicians who called for another probe of “jumping on the far-right bandwagon”.

But Keir Starmer claimed to have changed his mind over the weekend after an independent report from Baroness Louise Casey on child sexual exploitation recommended another inquiry.

The Conservatives have subsequently seen this as a victory on their campaigning, and called on Starmer to apologise for his past remarks – while somehow still promising to support the government with the new probe.

Then today, Badenoch suggested grooming gangs should not be a politicised issue at her press conference.

“I do think we should take the politics out of it,” she said to reporters.

Moments later, she attacked Labour again, saying: “Who was it that said when we raised this issue that we were pandering to the far right?

“That’s what brought the politics into it. Who was it that said that this was dog whistle politics? It was Keir Starmer and his ministers.”

Badenoch then claimed she had separated herself from the political issues, reminding those present that she was at a press conference with survivors of the scandal – and claimed she would only do politics in the Commons.

She said: “When I’m in the Houses of Parliament, when I’m in the Commons, I will do politics. And I think that it is wrong for people to tone police those who are pointing out when something has gone wrong.”

Badenoch’s press conference was also arranged at the same time as Casey herself was giving evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about the report.

Casey said on Monday that she was “disappointed” by the Tory leader’s reaction in the Commons to the grooming gangs report.

“I just felt, dare I say it, the opposition could have just been a bit, “yes, we will all come together behind you”. Maybe there is still time for that,” Casey told BBC Newsnight.

So when Badenoch used her press conference on Tuesday to lash out again at the government, she quickly attracted criticism on social media, with many users describing her conference as “disingenuous” and “deeply uncomfortable”.

Kemi Badenoch having a press conference on grooming gangs, and declaring this to be not political, would be a lot more convincing if this were a /cross-party/ press conference.As it is this performative ‘we’re on your side’ exercise is coming across as disingenuous.

— Rallicat (@rallicat.fun) 2025-06-17T11:07:23.398818Z

The absolute chutzpah of Kemi Badenoch holding a press conference with victims of sex trafficking and bemoaning lack of progress at the VERY SAME TIME that Baroness Casey is presenting her findings and, notably, actions/next steps following her rapid 3 month report. Wind your neck back in, Kemi luv.

— Stephsimone (@stephsimone.bsky.social) 2025-06-17T11:02:06.303Z

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Exclusive: Pro-Abortion Campaigners Fear Medical Staff Could Be Prosecuted Under Law Changes

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MPs are set to vote on changing the country’s abortion law on Tuesday but campaigners are split over just what alterations are needed.

Two Labour backbenchers have proposed altering the government’s Crime and Policing Bill with rival amendments to the draft legislation.

Both aim to decriminalise abortion, but the differences between their two policies have caused a major divide.

What is the difference between the two amendments?

1. Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment

This amendment put forward by the Labour MP for Gower would stop it being a criminal offence for a woman to end their own pregnancy.

They would not be prosecuted for procuring or administering drugs, or using instruments, to cause an abortion.

This amendment would not include protections for medical staff or activists who aid the abortion.

2. Stella Creasy’s amendment

The Labour MP for Walthamstow’s amendment would decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks.

Late-term abortions outside of the Abortion Act would also not result in custodial sentences.

She wants to decriminalise abortion for any medical professionals who carry out the abortion with the explicit consent of the pregnant person too, as long as the pregnancy has not exceeded 24 weeks.

Fears for medical staff and activists

The charities BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) and MSI Reproductive Choices have publicly supported Antoniazzi’s amendment – and written to MPs calling on them to do the same.

But activists fear that amendment will only lead to the prosecution of anyone who helps someone get an abortion, such as activists and medical staff.

HuffPost UK understands that MSI have claimed it is “possible” medical staff or activists could be investigated under Antoniazzi’s amendment.

However, Emma Campbell, co-convenor for Alliance 4 Choice, told HuffPost UK that Britain should be wary of what happened when a similar law was unveiled in Poland.

“Once it was no longer legal to arrest the people [who were pregnant], they arrested the activists,” she warned.

She said she was “mystified” by the fact that BPAS and MSI were not supporting Creasy’s amendment, calling Antoniazzi’s amendment “dangerous”.

“It seems bizarre – they’re willing to play politics on abortion-seekers and their close ones’ lives,” she said.

BPAS told HuffPost UK that Antoniazzi’s amendment “would change nothing about abortion provision or the laws around medical professionals and activists.”

BPAS’ head of advocacy Rachael Clarke said: “All it would do is stop the prosecution of vulnerable women who end their own pregnancies outside the current law.

“Every organisation that represents medical professionals working in abortion care support this amendment, including all abortion providers in England and Wales, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, and the British Society of Abortion Care Providers.

“The uniting issue for all these groups is that women must urgently be removed from the criminal law on abortion – and that wider reform including that around the law related to medical professionals needs proper consideration and input from medical bodies and abortion care providers.”

MSI told HuffPost UK that Antoniazzi’s amendment “protects the person ending their own pregnancy from prosecution. It does not change the law in relation to medics or activists, and nor do we have reason to believe it would make prosecutions of medics or activists more likely.”

Louise McCudden, MSI Reproductive Choices’ UK head of external affairs. added: “We would never support an amendment that criminalised medics or activists, or that made their prosecution more likely.”

Confusion around campaigners

There’s also a clash between activists over Creasy’s amendment.

MSI told MPs it was written without abortion providers’ input, and suggested it did not have enough support to pass.

MSI has also warned campaigners it could set back the fight for full decriminalisation of abortion for a generation.

The same organisation wrote to MPs last week calling for them to withdraw their support for Creasy’s decriminalisation bill.

MSI’s Louise McCudden told HuffPost UK: “We strongly support full decriminalisation of abortion and we have long advocated for it with our partners, including the many pro-choice activists who have signed up to back NC1 as an important milestone. Abortion providers, pro-choice activists, and medics have already begun to reimagine abortion care for the 21st century.

“This is a complex area and it’s important we get it right. In the meantime, we advocate for a simple reform to the law which will end the prosecution of women who have been investigated under our Victorian abortion laws. The women have who have been investigated so far include domestic abuse survivors, potential trafficking survivors, and women who have had stillbirths – this is a fundamental injustice and addressing it cannot wait.”

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Labour Minister Refuses To Say That Israel Is An Ally Of The UK

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A government minister has refuses to describe Israel as an “ally” of the UK.

Darren Jones said “these things are never clear cut one way or the other”.

The chief secretary to the Treasury’s comments came as the Foreign Office warned Britons not to travel to Israel because of its war with Iran.

RAF jets have also been sent to the region as the conflict continues to escalate.

On LBC on Sunday, presenter Lewis Goodall asked Jones: “Do we agree with Israel that Iran is a menace to world peace and a threat to Israeli security?”

Jones said: “The UK has been part of international efforts in the past in respect of Iran, the third party groups that it funds, concerns in the past about enrichment capability.

“So of course, there are diplomatic challenges there that we have always played a role in with allies in the West.”

Goodall then asked him: “But Iran is our enemy, isn’t it?”

Jones replied: “Well look, we have these diplomatic conversations with Iran where we would like them to do different things, that’s for sure.”

Goodall then asked: “It’s fair to say Israel is our ally. Israel is clearly, in this situation, we are an ally of Israel. That’s right, isn’t it?”

Jones said: “We’ve always supported Israel’s right to defend itself. But as you’ll also know from other actions happening in the region in respect of Gaza and the West Bank, we have differences of opinions with Israel as well. So these things are never clear cut one way or the other.”

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‘We are an ally of Israel. That’s right, isn’t it?’
‘These things are never clear cut.’ @lewis_goodall grills Labour’s Darren Jones to find out whether the UK stands with Israel in its escalating conflict with Iran. pic.twitter.com/EAKswp4uOY

— LBC (@LBC) June 15, 2025

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‘We are an ally of Israel. That’s right, isn’t it?’
‘These things are never clear cut.’ @lewis_goodall grills Labour’s Darren Jones to find out whether the UK stands with Israel in its escalating conflict with Iran. pic.twitter.com/EAKswp4uOY

— LBC (@LBC) June 15, 2025

Tensions between Israel and the UK have been building in recent weeks over the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a scathing attack on the UK, France and Canada after they called on Israel to “cease the renewed military offensive” in Gaza and lift its blockade on humanitarian aid.

The government has also sanctioned two Israeli ministers for inciting “extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze under the measures announced by Britain alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway.

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