Scots report pushes extreme abortion agenda

Abortion should be allowed on demand up to birth, a Scottish Government-commissioned report has recommended.

The Abortion Law Review Expert Group called for abortion to be allowed beyond 24 weeks gestation for almost any reason, for decriminalisation of abortion, and for abortion to be recognised as a right for “all pregnant people” in Scotland.

Among other controversial recommendations, the group opposed mandatory counselling, stronger protections against coercion, and a prohibition on sex-selective abortion.

‘Reckless’

Joanna Timm, Senior Public Affairs Officer at The Christian Institute said: “This review was not about evidence or hearing from a wide range of stakeholders. It was driven by activists like Engender whose demands are totally out of kilter with the Scottish public.

“The review calls for repeal of much of the remaining safeguards that protect vulnerable women and their unborn babies, opening the door to more coercion of women, and to abortion on demand up to birth.

“The group also recommends downgrading the criminal law for healthcare professionals who perform illegal abortions, in favour of a politicised system of prosecution which depends on the personal stance of the Attorney General.

“The public does not agree with these extreme agendas. The report’s recommendations are reckless and must be rejected.”

Sex-selective abortion

Criticism reported in the press was particularly levelled at the Committee’s recommendation that “no specific reference is made to sex-selective abortion within any updated abortion legislation”.

But prominent gender-critical feminist Kathleen Stock observed: “Sex-selection seems to be only aspect of abortion that progressives feel confident in objecting to.

“Aborting a baby because it’s a baby = silence. Aborting a baby because it’s a girl = howls of outrage. From baby’s perspective, there isn’t much difference though.”

Scotland’s Health Minister Jenni Minto said the Government “will take time to carefully consider” the report’s findings “and respond in due course”.

Westminster

At Westminster recently, abortion decriminalisation was debated in the House of Lords during scrutiny of the Crime and Policing Bill.

Lord Frost said: “It is foreseeable that, in practice, this will make abortions up to birth more common, endanger more women because of the medical risks of termination after 24 weeks, and create pressure for a similar decriminalisation for medical practitioners themselves.

“People will argue, ‘How can it be illegal for a doctor to help with something that is not in itself illegal?’ or they will say that doctors need to be able to perform late-term abortions to avoid the risks of terminations at home. It is the beginning of a slippery slope.”

Lord Alton of Liverpool, who was unable to attend the debate, commented: “This is radical and disturbing, a proposal which would endanger women by removing any legal deterrent against performing dangerous late-term abortions at home and likely lead to an increase in viable babies’ lives being ended.”