The 100-Year Life Health Education and Government
MPs will not vote on whether to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales this side of a general election, the Home Secretary has said. James Cleverly claimed the Criminal Justice Bill had become “a bit of a Christmas tree” with multiple amendments that could prevent the legislation becoming law. As a result, he said it would not cover abortion, dashing campaigners’ hopes that women would no longer be jailed for ending their own pregnancy. While professing himself pro-choice, the cabinet minister said abortion remained a matter of conscience and that including such provisions risked up-ending the entire bill. He also questioned whether it was the “right vehicle” for MPs to discuss such an emotive topic, in a “short and slightly rushed debate”.