On 17 June 2025, MPs had the opportunity to vote on two amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill relating to abortion:

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  NC1 aimed to prevent women from being prosecuted for ending their own pregnancy.

• NC20 went further, seeking to fully decriminalise abortion by repealing the relevant criminal provisions altogether.

Both amendments retained the Abortion Act 1967 as the framework for abortion care, meaning the legal grounds for accessing abortion would remain unchanged. However, only NC20 would have made abortion a human right, protected it from future restrictions, and decriminalised the act for both women and healthcare professionals involved in providing abortion care.

While we may not fully understand why abortion groups and charities didn't support NC20, we do know that some of the arguments put forth by MPs to oppose the amendments – such as the claim they were about ‘saving women from themselves’, stopping women from 'getting to full term and deciding that the pregnancy is an inconvenience', or that abortion reform should wait for a standalone bill – were ill-advised, insincere and patronising.

In the end, only NC1 was passed.

So...

• Why are British tabloids now claiming that MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in the UK?
• Why were MPs allowed to misquote statistics on the record in Parliament to bolster opposition to abortion reform — without judicial correction?
• And most importantly, what are the real consequences of this vote for women, healthcare providers, and the future of reproductive rights in the UK?

We asked Stella Creasy, Labour (Co-op) MP for Walthamstow to join us for an episode to unpack what really happened in Parliament on June 17th, why the vote on NC20 mattered, and what’s next for abortion rights in the UK.

This episode was recorded on June 18th 2024.

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Helpful links:

The Mummafesto Podcast, hosted by Stella Creasy:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mummafesto/id1735494350

Hansard Society Debate Overview:

https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliament-matters-bulletin-16-june-2025#tuesday-17-june-2025

Recording of the Debate (start at 16:56:46 in the index):

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/97c409d6-cd51-4596-9921-96e0bfeb7677

Know the difference between NC1 and NC20 in the context of decriminalising abortions in the UK?

You're not the only one.

This episode picks up when our last episode left off, recapping the key details of e-petition 700014 and the two key amendments being tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill – NC1 (Tonia Antoniazzi, Labour MP) and NC20 (Stella Creasy, Labour MP).

We also explain the parliamentary process and why it's imperative we put a democratic lock around our right to access abortion healthcare now, in order to prevent future rollback via secondary regulations.

If we miss this opportunity, we delay reform for another generation and open up our rights to political mood swings.

Why run the risk?

To finish up, Rhiannon shares insights from the June 2nd debate and factchecks some of the fast and loose stats being thrown around by Jim Shannon (and others) – an Northern Irish MP with a real investment in denying abortion access for English and Welsh residents.

Next steps:

The vote takes place on June 17th, meaning you still have time to email your MP and implore them to back NC20. And you should do that. Here's a template you can use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4CoU9FfVBrXUoLWgM4-ZMAFwYPuYWBTDSqZMkusnxM/edit?tab=t.0

You can also watch the first debate in full here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/9e31c35d-d310-4b07-ad31-6b30fea24032

The Hansard Transcript of the June 2nd debate can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-06-02/debates/600E3036-7871-4198-BD43-467F710AC5E1/DecriminalisingAbortion

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.

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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

In 2023, a non-profit research organization, More in Common, found that trust in the police fell from 63% to 53% in the wake of Wayne Couzens' sentencing. This sharp decline in public confidence reflects a growing distrust of law enforcement, particularly following high-profile cases of police misconduct.

In this powerful episode, we speak with Issy Vine who has taken legal action against the Metropolitan Police, shedding light on the deep-rooted issues of misogyny and discrimination within the force.

We explore the incident that led Vine to pursue legal action, the personal motivations behind her decision, and the challenges she faced when reporting misconduct within the force. Vine shares her firsthand experience of the cultural dynamics within the Metropolitan Police and discusses how these systemic issues contribute to a hostile environment for women, both within the police force and in the broader public.

Despite the negative publicity that stories like this can generate, Vine explains why it's crucial to share her experience publicly and challenge the status quo. Now campaigning for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and institutional accountability, she outline their priorities and suggests reforms necessary to address misogyny and discrimination in the police and other institutions.

Join us for a compelling conversation on justice, accountability, and the urgent need for change within law enforcement institutions.

Additional resources:

• The Baroness Casey Review, March 2023 – https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/bcr/baroness-casey-review/
• The Angiolini Inquiry,  February 2024 – https://www.angiolini.independent-inquiry.uk
• The Met's response to issues raised by the crimes of Wayne Couzens: https://www.met.police.uk/notices/met/our-response-to-issues-raised-by-the-crimes-of-wayne-couzens/
• Independent Review of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), December 2023: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65f458f6af6a0d001190d4fc/Independent+Review+of+the+Independent+Office+for+Police+Conduct+.pdf
• National recommendations relating to 'Wayne Couzens failures' - National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing, August 2023: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/our-work/learning/national-recommendations-relating-wayne-couzens-failures-national-police-chiefs
• David Carrick, CPS – https://www.cps.gov.uk/stories/david-carrick

Support Issy Vine:

• https://www.change.org/p/review-legislation-and-policies-enabling-police-misconduct-in-the-met-police-force
• www.issyvine.com 

Witchcraft* – a crime predominately played out by women in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was not a crime before this time because, well, it was completely made up to punish those destabilising gender hierarchies and social hierarchies.

This means it also impacted men.

Anyone who was oppressed by patriarchal ideals.

So much so, that many scholars in this field look at witchcraft as a study of disenfranchised groups more broadly, rather than just a crime against women.

This episode discusses talking points raised by Dr Jennifer Farrell (a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Exeter) in a talk she hosted with Seed Talks in September 2024, titled: The History of Witchcraft and Feminism with Dr Jennifer Farrell.

Using Dr Farrell's learnings, Rhiannon and I delve into the emergence of witchcraft at the end of the middle ages, the variety of magical practices (including love magic, healing, and various forms of necromancy), the impact of secular powers on who was accused of witchcraft, and how the genesis paradigm continues to feed the patriarchal fear of women.

Enjoy!

*Evidence of witchcraft ranged from being considered a 'woman of forcible speech and domineering ways' by a neighbour, to having friends – and 'gathering' with them, to exhibiting menopausal symptoms, being gay, marrying someone 'outside your league', or living in a town which was experiencing a bad harvest or political unrest...

We've covered the menopause before, but not like this!

Dr Wendy Molefi joins Rhiannon and Ely to discuss the differences in menstrual patterns among various ethnicities, why menopause is still considered a social stigma in many minority communities – and how this affects the treatment of women going through the menopause, as well as how we address the misconception that menopause is a loss of femininity.

Dr Molefi will be speaking at Pause Live – the UK’s largest menopause event. It takes place this year on 14th September, in London.

Helpful links

BMS – Menopause in ethnic minority women

2023 online survey of postmenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Rawan Aljumah, Samantha Phillips, and  Joyce C Harper

APPG on Menopause inquiry: Assessing the impacts of Menopause and the case for policy reform

£25 million for women's health hub expansion

“A part of being a woman, really”: Menopause at work as “dirty” femininity, 2022

In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25-44 than any other preventable risk factor.

So far this year in Australia, more than one woman per week has been killed by a male perpetrator.

The rate of women killed by an intimate partner in Australia has increased by nearly 30% in 2022-23 (Australian Institute of Criminology), with research from Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) showing that Australian men hold some of the most misogynistic views in the Western world.

In this episode, we are once again honoured to be graced with the presence of The Unfairer Professor, Steve Roberts, alongside his esteemed colleague Dr Stephanie Wescott (Monash University).

Together, we delve into the impact of toxic masculinity within Australian schools, the response from the Australian government, and why asking women and girls to suffer so men and boys can 'learn a lesson' isn't right or sustainable.

We explore how harmful stereotypes affect students, educators, and the overall learning environment, and how much harder it's becoming to tackle what's been called a 'national crisis' when the likes of Andrew Tate continue to embed themself in the consciousness of teenage boys...

Links:

The problem of anti-feminist ‘manfluencer’ Andrew Tate in Australian schools: women teachers’ experiences of resurgent male supremacy – Stephanie Wescott, Steve Roberts and Xuenan Zhao paper

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540253.2023.2292622

Interview with The Conversation about Doctor Stephanie Wescott's and Prof Steve Roberts' research paper: https://theconversation.com/andrew-tates-extreme-views-about-women-are-infiltrating-australian-schools-we-need-a-zero-tolerance-response-229603

The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032

https://www.dss.gov.au/the-national-plan-to-end-violence-against-women-and-children/the-national-plan-to-end-violence-against-women-and-children-2022-2032

Yarra Valley grammar students suspended:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/06/yarra-valley-grammar-students-suspended-spreadsheet-rating-female-classmates

Julia Gillard misogyny speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNuPcf8L00

We are no strangers to competition – give us a board game or a sports field and we will compete till the cows come home, but in this episode, we talk about an arena in which we refuse to compete.

We dive into the historical and ongoing trend of pitting women against each other, from the royal courts of Henry VIII to the pop culture clash between Britney and Christina, and beyond.

Why has society long fostered a culture of competition among women in areas where it doesn't belong?

Why do we perpetuate this cycle of competition, and is it time to put an end to it?

We examine the impact of rivalry in various spheres, including pop culture, the workplace, and the pressures mothers face to avoid judgment.

Through a range of examples, we discuss the reasons behind this phenomenon, the unfairness and absurdity of it, and most importantly, how we can shift from competition to support. Join us as we challenge the status quo and this tired game of competition, and advocate for a world where women empower each other in all their endeavours, celebrating unity over rivalry.

One in three.

That's the number of women who will experience sexual assault in their lives. And that's an uncomfortable truth Suzie Miller addresses in her play, Prima Facie – recently evolved into a novel by the same name (released 14th March 2024).

Keen to better understand the themes behind Prima Facie – namely the limitations of the UK legal system when it comes to cases of rape and sexual assault – The Unfairer Sex was thrilled to get its mitts on a pre-released copy of the book and have the opportunity to speak to Suzie Miller herself about:

This conversation was nothing short of awe-inspiring and we hope you love listening as much as we did recording.

P.S. Penguin Random House very kindly shared some audio clips featuring the incredibly talented Jodie Comer – enjoy!

Helpful links:

Jodie Comer and Suzie Miller Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gSOazhMuH0

Right to Equality campaign:

https://theconversation.com/affirmative-consent-campaign-calls-for-sexual-assault-law-change-in-england-and-wales-but-this-approach-has-pitfalls-too-225317

EU Resolution – first EU law on violence against women:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240205IPR17412/first-ever-eu-rules-on-combating-violence-against-women-deal-reached

Tea and Consent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ

Larry Nassar case: The 156 women who confronted a predator:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42725339

Inquiry into serial sexual offender Wayne Couzens:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/29/killer-of-sarah-everard-should-never-have-joined-police-report-finds