Devolution of abortion raised again in Scotland Bill talks

In May the Scottish government dropped its demands for the powers to be transferred but three pro-life MPs from other parties have supported the devolution of the law during Scotland Bill talks at Westminster, with backing from the SNP.

Campaigners have warned devolving the powers could mean stronger laws in Scotland.

Seventeen individuals from groups including Scottish Women’s Aid, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland and Amnesty International signed a statement to MPs at the weekend highlighting fears transfer of the powers could lead to different legal limits between the jurisdictions.

It read: “We are already in the situation in the UK where different legal frameworks on abortion have resulted in a discriminatory impact against women and girls in Northern Ireland, for which the UK has been repeatedly criticised internationally.

“Our concern is that this strategy of hasty devolution is being used in order to argue for regressive measures and in turn, a differential and discriminatory impact on women and girls in Scotland.

“Women across the UK have fought for women’s bodies to be their own, and to this day, fight opposition to a women’s right to choose.

“We do not wish this amendment to open the doors to those who seek to undermine this right.”

The Smith agreement came to the conclusion on abortion that “further serious consideration should be given to its devolution and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further”.