House of Lords Votes for Abortion Up to Birth: Only 1% of Women Support It

House of Lords Votes to Decriminalise Abortion Up to Birth Despite Pro Life Opposition

The House of Lords voted on 18 March 2026 to retain Clause 208 of the Crime and Policing Bill, a measure that would decriminalise women who self administer abortions at any stage of pregnancy, effectively opening the door to unrestricted abortion up to birth in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Monckton tabled Amendment 424 at Report Stage to remove Clause 208 entirely from the Bill. She expressed deep concern that "the welfare of the child had been ignored" in the legislative process. Her amendment was defeated by 185 votes to 148.

A separate amendment, Amendment 425, was proposed by Baroness Stroud to reinstate mandatory in person consultations with a medical professional before a woman could obtain abortion pills by post. That amendment was also rejected, this time by 191 votes to 119.

Catholic Archbishop John Sherrington, the Church's lead bishop for life issues, had urged peers to support the removal of Clause 208, calling it "a radical departure from our current law" that threatens "the dignity of the unborn child."

A civilised society does not permit abortion up to birth.

Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right to Life UK, said in response to the vote.

Former Olympian Sharron Davies, who identifies as pro choice, co sponsored Baroness Stroud's amendment. She argued that "women should have equal responsibilities as well as rights" and criticised the lack of safeguards in the pills by post system.

Kevin Duffy, a former abortion provider director turned pro life advocate, criticised what he called a "double standard" in the government's policy approach. The House of Commons had originally passed the legislation in June with only 46 minutes of debate.

The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed concern that decriminalisation "undoubtedly risks eroding the safeguards and enforcement" of legal abortion limits and could undermine "the value of human life."

In a further vote, Lady Thornton's amendment to pardon women previously convicted of abortion and remove their police records passed by 180 votes to 58. Right to Life UK reported that 89% of the general population opposes sex selective abortion and only 1% of women support abortion up to birth. Approximately 300,000 abortions occur annually in the United Kingdom.

UK Peers Reject Last Ditch Effort to Stop Extreme Abortion Clause in Crime and Policing Bill

CARE's Director characterised the outcome as endorsing "a dangerous principle which may prove truly terrible in practice" and questioned whether this reflects "how we treat the most vulnerable." Pro life campaigners held demonstrations outside the House of Lords on the day of the vote, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in swaying enough peers to block the measure.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let that number sink in. Only 1% of women support abortion up to birth, yet the House of Lords just voted to make it legal. This is not democracy. This is a political class imposing its will against the overwhelming conscience of the nation. Three hundred thousand children destroyed every year in the UK alone, and Parliament's answer is to remove the last remaining safeguards. The Archbishop of Canterbury warned them. Catholic bishops warned them. Even pro choice women warned them. They voted anyway. Britain was once the heart of Christendom, a nation that sent missionaries to the ends of the earth. Now it cannot even protect a child in the womb at nine months. God will not be mocked, and nations that call evil good will answer for it.

Take Action

• Contact your Member of Parliament and demand they oppose Clause 208 when it returns to the Commons. Find your MP at members.parliament.uk
• Sign the Right to Life UK petition to protect unborn children at righttolife.org.uk
• Support CARE's campaign to reinstate safeguards for women at care.org.uk
• Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to support Christians defending life and faith worldwide
• Share this article with your church community and pastor. Start conversations about the sanctity of life and how your congregation can respond
• Pray for the members of the House of Lords. Pray for a change of heart in Parliament and for the protection of the unborn in the United Kingdom