The alarm has been raised concerning the significant increase in the number of abortions in England and Wales for the year 2023. Projections suggest that an estimated 325,000 abortions may occur, which marks a notable 32 percent increase from the record-high of 246,438 in 2022. The former research director of Marie Stopes, Kevin Duffy, has cited data from UK abortion provider Maries Stopes, recently highlighting a significant escalation in abortion numbers, much of which has been attributed to “DIY” abortion kits. A senior legal communications officer for legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, Lois McLatchie-Miller, has cited official statistics from the UK government to underscore the potential risks of abortion.
McLatchie-Miller also expressed concerns for the “pills by post” abortion scheme, claiming that while lucrative for the abortion industry, it may put women’s health at risk. She pointed out that the absence of in-person oversight has raised issues, as providers were found sending abortion pills by post without conducting essential checks in a 2020 nationwide undercover investigation. The investigation found providers offering the pills beyond legal time limits, which raised concerns about abuse and coerced abortions.
Prominent barrister James Bogle voiced deep reservations about the unprecedented increase in the level of abortions and a perceived contradiction in advocating for high abortion rates, being safe, and legal but not rare. Catherine Mockler, a senior policy officer for The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, expressed concern about the normalisation of do-it-yourself home abortions, attributing it to a significant surge in abortion rates. She believes that this surge was driven by an abortion ideology that put convenience over the well-being of both women and unborn babies. Peter D Williams, the Director of the Family Education Trust, echoed concerns over the increase in abortion rates and the potential dangers for women. He stressed the urgency of addressing permissive attitudes toward abortion and reinstating the requirement for in-person appointments to provide better protection.
Additionally, the UK Government has implemented temporary measures allowing “tele-medicine” or “at-home” medical abortions, the most significant change to abortion law since 1967, following a decision made without parliamentary scrutiny or public consultation. Both sets of abortion pills can be obtained after consultations with doctors over the phone or video. Parliament voted in March to make these temporary measures permanent. Critics argue that the absence of in-person oversight raises serious issues, as evidenced by a nationwide undercover investigation in 2020 that revealed providers had been sending abortion pills by post without conducting essential checks, and providing pills beyond the legal time limits.