Unbeknown to some, abortion in England and Wales is still a crime under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, which carries a life sentence for anyone who has or provides an abortion. These laws remain in place despite being repealed in Northern Ireland by Westminster in 2019 and 2020.

In this episode, we tackle the relentless control over women’s reproductive choices – from forced birth and restricted access to healthcare, to the criminalisation of abortion. With Parliament set to debate a crucial amendment next week (June 2nd, 2025) to protect women from prosecution for seeking essential healthcare, we explore what’s at stake and why this fight is far from over.

We discuss the harrowing case of Adrian Smith in Georgia, a woman kept alive despite being brain dead, her body used as an incubator without her consent.

We also address Nigel Farage’s recent comments calling it “utterly ludicrous” that abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks. His statements mirror anti-choice rhetoric, even though most abortions (88%) occur within the first ten weeks, and later procedures are often medically necessary.

Rhiannon shares her own personal story of baby loss – having to terminate her pregnancy at 22 weeks due to her son’s severe and incurable heart condition. She warns of the chilling prospect that, if politicians like Farage succeed in reducing the legal time limit, we risk following the same path as the U.S., where reproductive rights have been systematically dismantled and women are forced to carry pregnancies that only lead to suffering.

This episode is a call to action. We cannot let our rights be eroded piece by piece. Join us as we unpack the legal battles, the human stories, and the urgent need to protect bodily autonomy before it’s too late.

****

Helpful links:

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/exclusive-labour-mp-stella-creasy-calls-for-abortion-to-be-human-right-after-farage-comments-393618/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqp3dep48o

Write to your MP:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4CoU9FfVBrXUoLWgM4-ZMAFwYPuYWBTDSqZMkusnxM/edit

https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2136.full

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2022/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2022

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2023-12/Legal%20but%20not%20local_Barriers%20to%20accessing%20abortion%20servicesi%20in%20Northern%20Ireland.pdf?VersionId=TMIsqFC1MS2CogIE1kaZHcya0OSG_HYe

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/abortion-service-protection-zones-in-place-in-england-and-wales

https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/53621/documents/4252

Support Rhiannon's JustGiving Page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/hudsons-little-heart-bereavement-support