UK MPs have voted in favour of an amendment to stop prosecuting women in England and Wales for ending their own pregnancies, marking a major shift in how abortion laws are enforced. Backed by a 242-vote majority, Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi’s amendment would protect women from criminal charges, even though it doesn’t change existing abortion laws.Under current law, abortion after 24 weeks or without the approval of two doctors can carry a life sentence. The amendment, part of a broader crime bill, still needs approval from Parliament and the House of Lords.

Antoniazzi said too many women are being arrested and investigated, even after miscarriages or stillbirths. Supporters argue it’s a needed reform, backed by 50 organisations, including medical and women’s rights groups.

Critics, like the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, see the move as a threat to unborn life. Recent high-profile cases, like that of Carla Foster and Nicola Packer, have sparked national debate. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his support for safe, legal access to abortion.While abortion laws remain unchanged, the amendment could end criminal investigations against women, bringing England and Wales closer to Northern Ireland, which decriminalised abortion in 2019. Scotland is currently reviewing its own laws.