MPs in England have voted in favour of decriminalising abortion in England and Wales.
A bill was put forward with 172 voting in favour and 142 voting against. A second vote will be cast on March 24th to decide if the bill gets passed into law.
According to The Independent, the Abortion Act of 1967 is at the centre of the bill. MPs have voted to change to rules applied to women seeking an abortion.
Currently, under this act, a termination is only legal if a doctor has pre-approved it and up until 24 weeks of the pregnancy.
This is because of the law from 50 years ago says it is a criminal act technically – and can be punishable by life in jail.
If a woman doesn’t want to be guilty of the offence she has to have sign off by two doctors – that means that it is always illegal but an exception is made with consent from a doctor.
The new bill will mean that women will no longer have to get this consent.
Labour MP Diana Johnson said:
“There is no other medical procedure in this country is governed by legislation this old, this out of step with medical developments and public attitudes.
Doctors are poorly served by a criminal framework which does not apply to other areas of medicine.”
