On Wednesday 19th March 2026, the House of Lords voted to reform abortion law and stop the prosecution of women who end their own pregnancies.
This vote took place as part of the report stage of the Crime and Policing Bill, as it progresses through parliament. The Bill includes Clause 208 (previously referred to as amendment NC1), which will reform outdated abortion laws and put an end to the invasive criminal investigations and prosecutions following an unexplained pregnancy loss.
This follows a historic vote by MPs last June, when the amendment, tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, was added to the Crime and Policing Bill and supported by 379 MPs. The legislation is currently progressing through Parliament, with members of the House of Lords proposing further amendments.
Another pro-choice amendment was also passed, introducing pardons for those who have been convicted – this gives pardons for any existing convictions and removes details from police records. It was supported by 180 votes to 58, a majority of 122.
Once the legislation is enacted, people will no longer be arrested for ending their own pregnancies. Recently it has been revealed that, since the MP vote last June, women have continued to be investigated under this Victorian-era law.
We have proudly campaigned for this reform alongside 40+ other pro-choice organisations, including doctors, nurses, royal colleges, abortion providers, and gender-based violence charities.
Abortion is healthcare, not a crime.
What’s next?
Following this vote, the bill goes to the third reading stage, which gives the House of Lords a final chance to make further amendments.
Commenting on the outcome of the vote, MSI UK’s Head of External Affairs, Louise McCudden, said:
“We are delighted that the House of Lords voted in favour of this moderate reform to abortion law, which ends the prosecution of vulnerable women without changing the way care is provided or regulated.
“This reform has already received overwhelming cross-party support from elected MPs and has now cleared one of the final major hurdles before it can be signed into law. This marks a landmark moment in abortion law reform and will be a huge relief to the women who have faced traumatic investigations as well as those still living with the anxiety and uncertainty created by the current law.
“At a time when we’re seeing rollbacks on reproductive rights intensifying around the world, most notably in the United States, this is not only a historic moment for the UK, but one that will resonate globally.
“The vote to protect telemedicine will provide reassurance to the many women who rely on this safe, trusted service. At-home abortion care has meant that women who can’t easily access in-person appointments can still get an abortion from a regulated, NHS-funded provider, such as women in abusive relationships or those with disabilities.”
Notes to Editors
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About MSI Reproductive Choices
MSI Reproductive Choices is one of the UK’s leading providers of safe abortion and vasectomy. We believe that everyone should have the right to make choices about their own body and future. Team members throughout our network of more than 60 clinics and confidential helpline, provide high quality, compassionate care to women and men, when and where they need them.
