Amendment would outlaw abortion on sex grounds

Seventy-three MPs have signed an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill that would make it illegal for a pregnancy to be terminated on the grounds of the sex of the unborn child, writes Joanna Moorhead.

The move came at the end of the bill’s committee stage, and the amendment was tabled by Fiona Bruce MP to clarify that the 1967 Abortion Act does not permit termination on grounds of sex.

The amendment is part of a section of the bill dealing with crimes that affect girls, including female genital mutilation. Mrs Bruce said the amendment was designed to provide clarification, because false information was being given to women. Mary Glindon, Labour MP for North Tyneside, who is supporting the amendment, said: “If opposing the abortion of baby girls – often under coercion – makes me anti-choice, then I will wear the label with pride.”

If selected for debate at the report stage of the Bill, the abortion amendment will be voted on and could become law when the Serious Crime Bill receives Royal Assent.