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46 election candidates sign Both Lives Pledge since launch last week
46 election candidates from Scotland and Wales have signed the Both Lives Pledge since it was launched last week.
Last week, Right To Life UK launched a major election campaign across Scotland and Wales – the Vote For Both Lives campaign – a large-scale initiative they are running in the lead up to election day on 6th May.
The Both Lives Pledge outlines three policy changes that are designed to increase protection for babies in the womb and end pregnancy discrimination for women – policies that will save lives by protecting and supporting both mother and child. Candidates pledged to support the following policies, if elected:
- End discrimination against baby girls
Stop discrimination against baby girls by supporting a law change to clarify that sex-selective abortion is illegal.
- Lower the abortion time limit
Bring the law closer to the laws in the majority of EU member states by supporting a law change to lower the gestational time limit for abortion.
- Stop pregnancy discrimination and unsafe home abortion schemes
Support women in the workplace by backing policies designed to end pregnancy discrimination and stop women’s safety being put at risk by supporting attempts to end home abortions.
Independent polling by Savanta ComRes shows that these policy changes are strongly supported by the public.
- 89% of the general population and 91% of women in the UK agree that gender-selective abortion should be explicitly banned by the law.
- 70% of women in the UK want to see the time limit for abortion reduced to 20 weeks or below.
- 79% of the general population and 84% of women in the UK agree that women who want to continue with their pregnancies, but are under financial pressure to have an abortion, should be given more support.
- 68% of the general population and 75% of women in England are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home. The polling also shows that 84% of the general population and 86% of women are concerned about women being at risk of being coerced into an abortion by a partner or family member during the home abortion process where a doctor does not see the woman in person. Similar results have been found from polling of the general public in Scotland. Public opinion on this issue in England and Scotland is likely to be close to where public opinion sits in Wales.
The Scottish and Welsh Governments are currently deciding on whether to end a temporary policy allowing ‘at home’ DIY abortion and are expected to announce their decisions following the election. The abortion lobby is putting strong pressure on both governments to proceed with introducing this change to the law.
Since DIY home abortion has been temporarily allowed in Scotland, England and Wales, there have been a series of major safety and safeguarding issues with the temporary schemes.
Constituents are being encouraged to visit https://righttolife.org.uk/bothlivesscotland / https://righttolife.org.uk/bothliveswales where it takes 30 seconds to ask their candidates to sign the Both Lives Pledge.
A spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson said:
Since we launched the Vote For Both Lives campaign last week, tens of thousands of emails have been sent from constituents throughout Scotland and Wales asking them to sign the Both Lives Pledge.
46 election candidates have now signed the Both Lives Pledge making it clear that if elected they will be supporting important measures to increase protection for babies in the womb and end pregnancy discrimination for women. These are policies that will save lives by protecting and supporting both mother and child.
It is fantastic to see such a strong response from the community and candidates as Scotland and Wales face what is one of the most important elections for life issues in a number of decades.
The Both Lives Pledge outlines three policy changes that are designed to increase protection for babies in the womb and end pregnancy discrimination for women. These are policies that will save lives by protecting and supporting both mother and child.”
ENDS
- For additional quotes and media interviews contact press@righttolife.org.uk or 07774 483658.
- For further information on Right To Life UK visit www.righttolife.org.uk
