Midwives accused of pushing for abortion 'free for all' 

Midwives have been accused of pushing for an abortion "free for all" as MPs prepare to vote on whether to decriminalise the procedure.

A Labour MP is to introduce a 10 minute rule bill in the Commons which would remove any criminal sanctions for doctors and women involved in MPs up to 24 weeks.

Under current laws, it is illegal for a woman to have a termination unless it is signed off by two doctors.

This means pregnant women who seek out abortion pills online and medics who fail to follow proper procedures could face criminal penalties, including prison sentences.

The private member’s bill being introduced on Monday is unlikely to be voted through.

But anti-abortion charities expressed concern that it is being backed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), and suggested that it was part of a wider campaign to remove controls on abortion.

It follows a furore last year when Cathy Warwick, the head of the RCM, was revealed to be chairman of the board of trustees at BPAS, Britain’s largest abortion provider.

Meanwhile, the British Medical Association was accused of launching a “crusade” to bring down the 24-week limit. Its ethics committee has written to members, asking for their views on decriminalisation and current legal limits, ahead of debate at its annual conference this summer. The BMA insisted its discussion paper is neutral.

Anti-abortion charity Life said such moves would lead to a “free for all” which would leave women at the mercy of an “unscrupulous” industry.

A spokesman said: “It is really worrying that those who are saving lives, delivering babies are pushing for an ever more liberal position on abortion. I really wonder whether the views of the upper echelons of the RCM are shared by rank and file midwives.”

Former shadow health minister Diana Johnson said the Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill aimed to get rid of “Victorian” abortion laws.

Rape survivors or domestic abuse victims might end up facing lengthy prison sentences for buying illegal abortion pills online because they were too afraid to seek help from a clinic, she warned.

The Bill  does not seek to deregulate abortion or to remove the 24-week limit, she said. Professional bodies would still regulate services, and termination after 24 weeks without medical reasons would remain illegal, under separate legislation.