SNP members vote for constitutional right to abortion in an independent Scotland

SNP members have voted in favour of a motion to enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution of an independent Scotland.

The motion, which was proposed by the party’s Elgin branch, states “legal abortion is a fundamental aspect of healthcare and bodily autonomy” and adds: “the right to choose [an abortion]….should be a guaranteed and protected right within the highest legal framework of our nation.”

The successful motion is now expected to become party policy and will mean that SNP Ministers in any future government in an independent Scotland will be expected to enshrine the right to abortion in a constitution. Should this materialise, it paves the way for abortion up to birth for any reason. 

Whilst this motion is specific to the SNP, there is a wider movement by campaigners and activists for unrestricted access to abortion that needs to be resisted with a positive message in favour of life. It is up to pro-life members of all political stripes to resist regressive moves such as the SNP motion and instead argue strongly and passionately for the right to life of our country’s future.

Abortion is a tragedy because it deliberately ends the life of an innocent human being. It is also often related to poverty. Women in the most deprived parts of Scotland have twice as many abortions as women in the least deprived areas. This significant difference suggests that women are having abortions for reasons linked to poverty and that more needs to be done to understand why that is happening and support provided to help women experiencing crisis pregnancies. 

Research by pro-abortion organisation the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) also found that of all women who had an abortion during the Covid pandemic and who already had two or more children, 57% said that the UK Government’s controversial two-child policy (which limits universal credit or tax credit to the first two children) was an important factor in their decision to have an abortion. Here too, financial considerations play a key part in a woman’s decision to have an abortion.

Rather than pursuing a radical proposal like a constitutional right to abortion, it would be much better if efforts were instead focused on trying to understand why women are having abortions in the first place and explore ways in which government and third sector organisations can provide care and support to those in need.