

Abortion decriminalised, part 1
Jun 25, 2025
Dawn McAvoy, leader of the Both Lives initiative at the Evangelical Alliance, dives into the controversial recent decriminalization of abortion in the UK. She unpacks the speed and lack of debate surrounding this reform, exploring its historical context and implications. The conversation highlights the significant shifts in societal attitudes towards abortion, particularly in Northern Ireland. Dawn also discusses the ethical concerns and the evolving legal landscape, raising questions about the balance between individual rights and societal responsibilities.
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Abortion's Quiet Legal Shift
- Abortion decriminalisation passed quickly with little public debate or media attention in the UK.
- This contrasts sharply with the extensive scrutiny given to the assisted dying bill, showing how abortion has been depoliticised in Britain.
N.Ireland's Abortion Law Impact
- Northern Ireland kept very restrictive abortion laws longer than the rest of the UK, causing cultural contrasts.
- This divergence delayed abortion becoming normalized in Northern Ireland as it became in Great Britain.
Tragic Botched Abortion Story
- John Wyatt shared a story of a young woman who died from a botched illegal abortion in the pre-1967 era.
- This impacted many doctors emotionally and shaped early abortion law reforms in the UK.