PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Petition signed by 102,573 calling for cut to abortion time limit delivered to 10 Downing Street by parents of children born at 22 and 23 weeks along with large group of MPs
- High resolution photos of the parents and MPs delivering the petition which can be used by media outlets are available here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBhE5N.
- The full text of the petition along with quotes from parents who delivered the petition is included below.
Parents of children who were born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation along with a large group of MPs have this afternoon delivered a petition, signed by 102,573 people, to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street calling for a reduction to the abortion time limit.
The parents are calling for MPs to vote in support of the landmark amendment tabled by a cross-party group of over 30 MPs, led by Caroline Ansell MP, that would lower the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks in line with advances in medical science.
Over 750 medical professionals have also called on MPs to back the amendment to the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill, in what would be the biggest change to abortion law for a generation.
The group of MPs backing the amendment includes former health minister Maggie Throup, ex-shadow cabinet Labour minister Rachael Maskell, ex-shadow Labour minister Marie Rimmer, ex-home office minister Sir John Hayes, ex-Cabinet Minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Miriam Cates.
A 24-week abortion limit is now beyond the point when many babies survive, double that of the most common time limit among European Union countries and represents a contradiction at the heart of our abortion law.
Originally set at 28 weeks, the abortion limit was lowered in 1990 to 24 weeks gestation. Improved survival rates for extremely premature babies between 24 and 28 weeks was one of the key considerations that motivated this change.
By the same logic, and informed by the improved survival rates for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation, MPs are now calling for the abortion time limit to be updated.
Research published in November 2023 by academics at the University of Leicester and Imperial College London indicates that a significant number of babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation can now survive outside the womb. According to this research, there were a total of 261 babies born alive at 22 and 23 weeks, before the abortion limit, who survived to discharge from hospital in 2020 and 2021.
This is compared to the Government abortion statistics, which show that in 2021 alone, 755 ‘ground C’ abortions were performed when the baby was at 22 or 23 weeks gestation (ground C is the statutory ground under which the vast majority of abortions are permitted and there is currently a 24-week time limit for abortions performed under this statutory ground).
This leaves a real contradiction in British law. In one room of a hospital, doctors could be working to save a baby born alive at 23 weeks whilst, in another room of that same hospital, a doctor could perform an abortion that would end the life of a baby at the same age.
Our 24-week time limit is also out of step with the majority of European Union countries, where the most common time limit for abortion on demand or on broad social grounds is 12 weeks.
Countries with 12-week limits for abortion on demand or on broad social grounds include Germany, Italy and Belgium as well as the more “liberal” Nordic countries Denmark and Finland. Even Sweden has a time limit for abortion on demand or on broad social grounds that is much lower than the United Kingdom at 18 weeks.
Lowering the abortion time limit is supported by a large majority of the British public. Polling undertaken by Savanta ComRes shows that 60% of the general population and 70% of women support a reduction in the time limit to 20 weeks or below.
The full text of the petition to the Prime Minister signed by 102,573 people reads:
Dear Prime Minister,
In 1990, the abortion limit was reduced from 28 to 24 weeks due to the increased chance of survival for extremely premature babies. In the 30 years since then, medical technology has greatly improved and babies are increasingly likely to survive at earlier gestations.
The latest guidance from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine enables doctors to intervene to save premature babies from 22 weeks. The latest research indicates that a significant number of babies born at 22 or 23 weeks gestation can survive outside the womb, and this number increases with proactive perinatal care.
This leaves a real contradiction in British law. In one room of a hospital, doctors could be working to save a baby born alive at 23 weeks whilst, in another room of the same hospital, a doctor could perform an abortion that would end the life of a baby at the same age.
Polling on this issue shows overwhelming support for reducing the abortion time limit. 70% of British women favour a reduction in the time limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks or below.
In most European Union countries, abortion is only legal on demand or on broad social grounds up to 12 weeks gestation, making legislation in the United Kingdom some of the most extreme in Europe.
We urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that our abortion law is urgently updated to reduce the abortion time limit.
Caroline Ansell MP, who is leading the group of over 30 MPs who have tabled the amendment, said:
“The increase in survival rates for babies born at 22 and 23 weeks gestation is one of medical science’s great success stories in recent years. More and more babies born at these ages are able to survive thanks to the hard work of neonatal teams”.
“As in 1990, when our laws were last changed to reflect similar increases in survival rates, it is time our abortion time limit was updated. Our current time limit is an outlier compared with our European neighbours and my hope is this amendment will command widespread support across the House”.
Medical doctor, John Wyatt, who is Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics & Perinatology at University College London and who has worked as a neonatologist for almost 30 years, said:
“I have first hand experience that on the one hand we are able to keep babies alive from 22 to 23 weeks gestation and many of them survive and live normal and healthy lives, yet at the same time the current abortion act allows abortion to be carried out effectively at maternal request at 24 weeks gestation”.
Jade Crane from Derbyshire, mum to Harry and Harley, who were born at 22 weeks and five days, said:
“Our beautiful twins, Harry and Harley, were born at 22 weeks and 5 days. The whole NICU team was amazing, they helped our babies to grow and become well enough to go home. They’re now 2.5 years old and bring us so much joy each and every day. They’re both so giggly, inquisitive and it’s so fun to see both of their different personalities develop”.
“Ever since Harry and Harley were born, we’ve been determined to show that babies born at 22 weeks can survive, because here they are, our little warriors, thriving at home! It’s crazy to think that there are babies being aborted at 24 weeks when our twins were born at 22. It doesn’t make any sense”.
“Our little ones, born at 22 weeks, are living proof of what medical advancements can achieve. It’s time the law reflects this reality and the abortion limit is reduced to 22 weeks”.
“We’re calling on MPs across the UK to vote in favour of the amendment to reduce the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks. Babies in the womb at 22 weeks, which is as young as Harry and Harley were when they were born, deserve to be given a chance at life – they’re tiny humans, but humans nonetheless”.
Hanaa and Tayub from Cambridge, parents to Maleeha, who was born at 22 weeks and six days said:
“Our daughter Maleeha was born at 22 weeks and six days”.
“She was like a beautiful little red jelly baby. We were warned she may be stillborn or covered in bruises and distressed. But she was perfect! In fact, our little girl came into the world kicking her legs and crying, telling us ‘here I am’. She was ready to fight and belong and survive and thrive”.
“Maleeha is now 14 months old and defying all medical expectations. She has surpassed all expectations and shows no signs of any lifelong disability. She continues to inspire us every day. Recently, she has had a lot of unexpected ‘firsts’ including giving lots of kisses and cuddles, which is so heartwarming. She has had quite the growth spurt too and learnt to crawl sideways and backwards. My micro preemie is a tiny fighter and I couldn’t be prouder!”
“We were shocked when we found out that babies who are the same age as our Maleeha was when she was born can be aborted here in the UK. Every day was a challenge as she was just so tiny and there seemed to be so many unknowns, but that didn’t make her any less human and we wouldn’t change it for the world”.
“At 22 weeks, she was a baby – there is no denying that. We need to urgently update our laws to lower the abortion time limit to 22 weeks. Maleeha was born at 22 weeks and 6 days and all babies born at the same age deserve the same chance at life. Our little girl is a beautiful miracle and continues to inspire us every single day!”
Mischa from Surrey, mum to Amaya, who was born at 23 weeks and five days said:
“Our beautiful Amaya was born at 23 weeks and 5 days. She’ll be turning 3 years old in the summer and has come such a long way. She’s the most expressive baby and it is so fun to see what silly face she may pull next, always showing her emotions!”
“She is such a water baby and adores her swimming lessons. I’ll never forget bringing her home for the first time and as I opened the ambulance door, the whole family was there cheering and clapping to welcome home my baby. She has brought so much light to so many lives”.
“It’s not easy to raise our premature baby. Every day was a fight; she has been fighting so hard. But we wouldn’t change it for the world. My little one was born at 23 weeks – why does she get to live while a 24-week baby in the womb could still be aborted?”
“The UK abortion law is out of date with medical science – my daughter is living proof of that. She’s a baby, just like others in the womb at 22 or 23 weeks. We hope to see this law changed to bring it in line with modern science so babies in the womb, the same age as my little fighter when she was born, are treated the same”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK Catherine Robinson said:
“This petition is one of the largest petitions delivered to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street over the last year”.
“It’s fantastic to see that an amazing 102,573 people have joined parents of children born at 22 and 23 weeks along with over 750 medical professionals to call for a reduction to our abortion time limit”.
“This demonstrates the overwhelming support from the general public for Caroline Ansell’s amendment to lower the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks in line with advances in medical science”.
“Polling undertaken by Savanta ComRes shows that 60% of the general population and 70% of women support a reduction in the time limit to 20 weeks or below”.
“The UK abortion time limit is double the average among EU countries, which is 12 weeks gestation, a point in pregnancy when the NHS website describes the unborn baby as ‘fully formed’”.
“At the moment, a baby at 22 or 23 weeks gestation could be born prematurely and have a dedicated medical team provide expert care to try to save his or her life, while another baby at the same age could have his or her life deliberately ended by abortion in the same hospital at the same time. This is a contradiction in UK law”.
ENDS
- For additional quotes and media interviews contact press@righttolife.org.uk or 07774 483 658.
- For further information on Right To Life UK visit www.righttolife.org.uk
- Caroline Ansell MP has published an op-ed in The Telegraph outlining the case for lowering the time limit to 22 weeks which is available here.
- The full text of the letter from over 750 medical professionals to MPs and ministers is available here.