Majority of women in the UK are in favor of stricter abortion laws, says new poll

Jardine Malado Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Demonstrators take part in a protest to urge the Irish Government to repeal the 8th amendment to the constitution, which enforces strict limitations to a woman's right to an abortion, in Dublin, Ireland September 24, 2016. | Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A new poll has revealed that a majority of women in the UK are in favor of reducing the time limit for abortions.

According to the study commissioned by the pro-life group Where Do They Stand, seven in 10 women want to reduce the limit from the current 24 weeks to 20, while six in 10 want it reduced to 16 weeks. The survey also found that nine out of 10 people wanted to outlaw sex-selective abortions.

A total of 2,008 British adults were interviewed online by ComRes between May 12 and 14 for the study, and the data was weighted to be representative of all adults in the UK.

The survey results further indicated that only one percent of the British public are in favor of extending the abortion limit up to birth.

In March, British MPs voted narrowly in favor of a bill that would allow abortion up to birth for any reason.

Dr. Anthony McCarthy of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said that the new poll reveals "how out of touch are those seeking to make abortion still more widely available."

"The abortion industry wants us to believe that abortion is a 'right' and should be decriminalised, but it is becoming increasingly clear that most people know better in their hearts. In fact, the public in Britain is uneasy about abortion, and women are particularly uneasy," he said in a press release, according to Life News.

The findings also indicated that nine in ten people believe that a woman who is considering an abortion should have a legal right to independent counseling from someone who does not have a financial interest in her decision.

Simon McCrossan, the Head of Policy with the Evangelical Alliance, said he believed that the survey reflects the people's response to technology that allows people to view the fetus in the womb.

"For many people, it's now becoming difficult to reconcile a six-month cut-off point when you have images of foetuses at 12 weeks, which whilst not viable outside the womb, to many people look palpably human," he said, as reported by Premier.

McCrossan said the survey shows that the media needs to change its narrative that the current abortion limit of 24 weeks is fine because it is no longer reflective of the views of women and society in general.