Calls for impact assessment on abortion up to birth

Ahead of the implementation of a legislative clause that would effectively allow abortion up to the point of birth, lawmakers have called for a postponement, demanding a proper assessment of the bill's societal impact. Clause 246 of the bill does not change the current 24-week limit for legal abortions, but it would remove legal penalties for women to undergo abortions for any reason after 24 weeks.

A cross-party group of MPs sent a letter to Home Secretary Shavana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The letter urged not only an impact assessment but also the provision of updated guidance for police, prosecutors, and doctors, stating that all such guidance must be approved by both houses of Parliament.

The group raised concerns about the lack of legal safeguards to prevent women from undergoing abortions themselves after 24 weeks and questioned whether medical professionals assisting a woman suffering complications from a self-induced abortion would be obligated to save the baby if found alive or help complete the abortion. Questions were also raised on how police can distinguish between infanticide and very late-term abortions, noting that infanticide cases might go undetected under the new clause.

Signatories included figures from the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Reform UK parties, totaling 79 individuals.