Portsmouth’s two MPs voted in favour of decriminalising women who terminate their own pregnancies, as Parliament backed a Labour amendment by 242 votes in the Commons.
Both Stephen James Morgan (Labour, Portsmouth South) and Amanda Martin (Labour, Portsmouth North) supported Tonia Antoniazzi’s proposal, which passed by 379 votes to 137. The Gower Labour MP stated it would eliminate the risk of “investigation, arrest, prosecution or imprisonment” for any woman acting regarding her own pregnancy.
Ms Antoniazzi explained to fellow MPs that she was motivated to push for legal reform after witnessing women being investigated by police for suspected unlawful abortions.
Speaking during the Bill’s report stage, Ms Antoniazzi reassured colleagues that the existing 24-week time limit would be maintained, terminations would continue requiring approval and signatures from two medical practitioners, and healthcare professionals “operating outside legal boundaries and abusive partners using violence or poisoning to terminate pregnancies would remain criminalised, exactly as they are currently”.
She further stated: “This represents the correct reform at the appropriate moment. I urge colleagues who wish to safeguard women and girls alongside abortion services to support new clause one. Let’s guarantee that no desperate woman faces traumatic criminal investigation during the most difficult periods of their lives.”
Termination of pregnancy in England and Wales continues to be a criminal matter but remains lawful through authorised providers until 24 weeks, with extremely limited exceptions permitting procedures beyond this point, including when the mother’s life faces danger or the foetus would have severe disabilities. Taking prescribed medication at home is also permitted for women under 10 weeks pregnant.
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These legislative changes aim to shield women from prosecution and follow ongoing demands to abolish sections of the Victorian-era 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, particularly after Northern Ireland decriminalised abortion in 2019. The decriminalisation measures must still complete their parliamentary passage through both Houses before becoming statute.
For matters like abortion, MPs typically receive free votes, allowing personal conscience rather than party allegiance to guide decisions.
How local area MPs voted:
- Portsmouth South: Stephen James Morgan (Labour) – supported
- Portsmouth North: Amanda Martin (Labour) – supported
- Gosport: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Conservative) – supported
- Chichester: Jess Brown-Fuller (Lib Dem) – supported
- East Hampshire: Damian Hinds (Conservative) – opposed
- Fareham and Waterlooville: Suella Braverman (Conservative) – opposed
- Hamble Valley: Paul Holmes (Conservative) – opposed
- Havant: Alan Mak (Conservative) – opposed
