Thursday 19th February 2026
On Wednesday 18th March, the House of Lords voted to back an amendment to pardon women convicted under the abortion law in England and Wales, reinforcing last year’s landmark vote by MPs to decriminalise women accused of ending their own pregnancies.
Heidi Stewart, Chief Executive of BPAS, said:
“For too long, women have faced the possibility of police involvement at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives, with some investigated, prosecuted and left with permanent criminal records for ending their own pregnancies.
"Last night, peers strengthened the ground breaking reform passed by MPs last year to decriminalise abortion for women and girls by supporting an additional amendment to pardon and expunge the records of those who should never have been investigated or prosecuted in the first place.
“This is an important step towards recognising the harm this legislation has caused to some of the most vulnerable women and girls, including victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking and children. Even women who were never convicted — including those who experienced natural pregnancy loss — could still have records retained on police systems and disclosed in background checks, creating ongoing stigma and barriers to rebuilding their lives.
“Last year, MPs made clear that criminalising women for ending their own pregnancies has no place in modern society. This latest vote ensures that those already harmed are not left to carry the lifelong consequences of a law Parliament has now rejected.
"When BPAS launched the campaign to decriminalise abortion in 2016, we could not have envisaged that within a decade such historic progress would be achieved. Over the past seven years, we have seen more progressive reform of abortion law than in the previous fifty. This vote is testament to the strength of support for abortion rights across the healthcare sector, civil society, Parliament and the public, and reflects the tireless work of campaigners, clinicians and parliamentarians who have worked together to bring about change.”
For further comment, please contact Katherine O’Brien, Head of Campaigns and Communications at BPAS, on 07881 265276 or email katherine.obrien@bpas.org
About BPAS
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain.
BPAS exists to further women’s reproductive choices. We believe women are best placed to make their own decisions about contraception, pregnancy, abortion and birth. Women deserve evidence-based information on which to make their choices and we campaign for comprehensive reproductive healthcare services to enable them to exercise those choices.
BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, CRRC. Through rigorous multidisciplinary research and impactful communication, the CRRC aims to inform policy, practice, and public discourse. You can find out more here.