Sir Ashley Fox, Conservative MP for Bridgwater, expresses deep concern over recent changes to UK abortion law that he believes unsettle a carefully considered balance between the rights of women and the protection of unborn children.
Last week, Parliament enacted one of the most sweeping modifications to abortion legislation in over half a century. With barely two hours of debate, MPs voted to decriminalise abortion at any stage of pregnancy, right up to birth.
While Sir Ashley Fox supports women’s access to safe and legal abortion, he maintains that the existing law—permitting termination up to 24 weeks with approval from two doctors—achieves a sensible equilibrium, safeguarding both maternal rights and fetal viability.
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The newly passed amendment disrupts this balance by eliminating criminal penalties for abortions carried out as late as 30, 32, or even 34 weeks into pregnancy. This means a woman could theoretically terminate a pregnancy just days before the due date with no legal repercussions—a prospect Sir Ashley finds deeply troubling.
This shift effectively communicates that the life of a viable unborn baby holds no legal value if the mother decides otherwise, a stance he contends is fundamentally wrong.
The Labour MP who introduced the amendment argues it targets only “desperate” situations, underscoring the need for compassion and support when such cases arise. While acknowledging that, Sir Ashley stresses that laws should be grounded in principle rather than assumptions. Unique cases like Carla Foster’s—who faced consequences after terminating a pregnancy at 32 weeks—would now encounter no legal accountability.
Moreover, this significant change was slipped into the Crime and Policing Bill at the eleventh hour, rushed through without meaningful public consultation or scrutiny. Most citizens remain unaware such a critical issue affecting human life and moral responsibility was altered with such haste.
For those emphasizing trust in women’s decision-making, Sir Ashley agrees trust is vital but insists it must be coupled with clear legal and ethical boundaries. It cannot ignore the reality that fully formed babies aborted days before birth represent victims too.
In no other legal context are serious acts absolved of responsibility simply because they occur privately. Existing exceptions—for medical emergencies, risks to the mother’s life, or severe fetal abnormalities—offer sensible protections. This amendment goes beyond those boundaries.
Most concerning is the apparent lack of gravitas some MPs applied when voting. Whether from misunderstanding or a push for a radical agenda at odds with public values, the outcome is the same: legal immunity for actions that previously could prompt criminal investigations.
Sir Ashley Fox’s position is clear: he does not wish to see women prosecuted unjustly, but he cannot endorse a law permitting the termination of viable unborn babies without consequence.