60% of British people support stricter abortion laws

Well over half of British people support stricter abortion laws according to a new poll by ComRes, commissioned ahead of the General Elections.

60 percent of those surveyed reported that they wanted the current abortion limit of 24 weeks to be reduced to just 20, whilst one in three people want the limit to be reduced even further, to only 12 weeks or under.

The poll also shows that the vast majority are in favour of the legal provision of independent counselling for women.

79 percent of those surveyed stated they that support the introduction of a five-day waiting period before the performance of an abortion, whilst a further 65 percent contested the use of British taxpayers’ money being used to fund abortions overseas.

Ryan Day, Senior Policy Officer of London-based human rights organisation ADF International, commented: “Every pregnant woman deserves to be supported and feel loved throughout her pregnancy.”

It is clear that the British public oppose any drive to further liberalise the law, and rather want to see women and children protected through a combination of better practical help for women and a reduced time limit.

“The recent poll clearly shows that the public want women up and down the country to be supported throughout a pregnancy. It demonstrates that the public – and women in particular – reject the recently introduced extreme bill driven by the big money abortion providers.”

“It is clear that the British public oppose any drive to further liberalise the law, and rather want to see women and children protected through a combination of better practical help for women and a reduced time limit. As a society we should create an environment in which all parents feel able to welcome their children into the world.”

The poll follows the annual March for Life in Birmingham last 20 May, where anti-abortion campaigners marked the 50th anniversary of the abortion act in the city where the UK’s first abortion clinic was established.

Thousands of anti-abortion protesters clashed with some hundreds of pro-choice activists in a counter-demonstration. Several counter-demonstrators attempted unsuccessfully to interrupt to the march by throwing red smoke bombs.

This “Life Fest” is a grotesque insult not just to women [but to] all those who support a woman’s right to choose.

Abortion Rights Birmingham’s Maureen Connelly commented, “The overwhelming majority of the population support a woman’s right to have an abortion.”

“This “Life Fest” is a grotesque insult not just to women [but to] all those who support a woman’s right to choose.”

“Their extreme style of harassment has no place in our society. I urge Birmingham City Council to reconsider allowing such prominent public space for this event.”

Second-year English Literature student Lauren Hurrell added: “We should have a right to choose what we do with our bodies. No one takes abortion lightly; it’s expensive and it fucks you hormonally.”

“People are looking at abortion when they should be looking at welfare cuts, cuts to free school meals and the privatisation of the NHS. It seems that some people care more about unborn babies than born ones.”

The ComRes poll, commissioned by Where Do They Stand -an initiative run by volunteers that aims to inform the public on the views of their elected representatives- is one of the most extensive surveys carried out on this issue.