UK Amendment Proposes Abortion Up to Birth – A Grim Warning for Ireland

30.05.2025

A deeply troubling proposal has been tabled in the UK Parliament that would make it legal for women to carry out their own abortions at any stage of pregnancy—even during birth.

The amendment, known as NC1, has been brought forward by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi. If passed, it would mark one of the most extreme changes to abortion law since the original 1967 Abortion Act. Under this proposal, there would be no legal limits for women performing their own abortions—no gestational boundaries, no requirements for medical oversight, and no protections for unborn children, even when they are fully viable outside the womb.

Pro-life advocates across Britain have called this the most radical threat to unborn life in over 50 years—and it’s not hard to see why.

Late-Term Self-Administered Abortions

Under the proposed change, women would be able to access abortion pills or procedures without prosecution, regardless of how far along they are. This would open the door to tragic scenarios like that of Carla Foster, who took abortion pills at over 32 weeks gestation after claiming she was just seven weeks pregnant.

With no legal restriction or verification, such late-term self-administered abortions could become increasingly common—and not without danger. These procedures pose serious health risks to women and end the lives of babies who, in many cases, could survive with full medical care if delivered prematurely.

No Safeguards Against Sex-Selective Abortions

The amendment also makes no provision to ban abortions based on the baby’s sex, leaving a disturbing legal loophole. Under current UK law, sex-selective abortion is not permitted. But the amendment's vague language would remove virtually all restrictions, including those that protect unborn girls from being aborted purely because of their gender—a tragic practice observed in several cultures with a preference for male children.

Public Opinion Is Not on Their Side

Despite how far-reaching this proposal is, public support for it is virtually nonexistent. Polling by ComRes and Ipsos has repeatedly shown that only 1% of women support abortion up to birth, and 91% oppose sex-selective abortion.

In fact, support for reducing the current 24-week limit is growing steadily. Around 70% of women and 60–65% of voters across major parties now favour lowering the limit to below 21 weeks. Among households with children, that support climbs even higher.

These numbers should be a loud wake-up call for politicians: the public does not want extreme abortion laws. And yet, politicians continue to push for them under the guise of progress.

A Warning for Ireland

Though this proposal is happening in the UK, its implications should concern us here in Ireland too. In recent years, we've witnessed how ideas from across the Irish Sea often make their way into our own political discourse. If the UK legalises abortion up to birth, we can be sure that abortion supporters in Dáil Éireann will be calling for such a move here.

We must remember: every step toward wider abortion access is a step away from a society that truly protects life, values motherhood, and respects the most vulnerable.