UK: Green Party votes to update abortion law

The party’s spring conference in Reading supported removing the ‘two doctors’ rule, allowing nurses and midwives carrying out abortions in the first trimester, and axing restrictions on where abortions can be conducted.

The Greens say the changes would remove barriers that mean many abortions are carried out later than necessary, and would bring the law into line with medical advances.

Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for the South East, said the moves reflected the recommendations of the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

‘The conference decision is timely, given the current progress of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill through Parliament,’ she said.

‘It was not those who favour these positive changes to the law who brought abortion into the debate about the Bill, but those who would reduce women’s access to abortion. But since the issue is now very much on the agenda, this is an ideal time to bring the 40-year-old bill up to date with medical technology and social realities.’

Ms Lucas said that in some NHS trusts women can have to wait up to seven weeks once they have made the decision to have an abortion.

‘This policy is an important step to ensure women do not face additional emotional pain and higher medical risks because they cannot afford to “go private”,’ she added.

Greens back abortion law shake-up, BBC News, 15 February 2008

Read on:

1967 Abortion Act section, Abortion Review