Where does the UK stand on abortion?
Savanta ComRes has undertaken the most extensive UK polling in a decade on abortion.
The results show a consensus on the issue with only 1% support for pro-choice campaigners’ goal to introduce abortion up to birth. Instead, the vast majority of the population show strong support for a range of common-sense policies that they believe would improve on our current approach to abortion in the UK.
SEx-SELECTIVE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS
89% of the general population and 91% of women agree that gender-selective abortion should be explicitly banned by the law.
TIME LIMIT
PROTECTIONS
60% of the general population and 70% of women believe that the current 24-week gestational limit for abortion should be reduced.
INDEPENDENT
COUNSELLING
93% of women agree that a woman considering abortion should have a legal right to independent counselling from a source that has no financial interest in her decision.
PREGNANCY
SUPPORT
79% of the general population and 84% of women agree that women who want to continue with their pregnancies, but are under financial pressure to have an abortion, should be given more support.
CONSIDERATION
PERIODS
79% of the general population support the introduction of a five-day cooling-off period to ensure that a women considering an abortion has had enough time to consider all of the options available to her.
PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT
65% of the general population and 70% of parents agree parental or guardian consent should be required for girls aged 15 or under to undergo an abortion.
WITHDRAWING UK
FUNDING OF OVERSEAS
ABORTIONS
65% of the general population oppose tax-payer money going to fund abortions overseas.
FREEDOM OF
CONSCIENCE FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
56% of the general population agree that doctors with a conscientious objection to abortion should not have to participate in abortion procedures against their will.
coercion
protectionS
76% of the general population agree that doctors should be required by law to verify in person that a patient seeking an abortion is not under pressure from a third party to undergo the abortion.
Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,008 British adults online between 12th and 14th May 2017. Data was weighted to be representative of all GB adults. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
