MPs have voted in favour of nationwide “buffer zones” outside abortion clinics in England and Wales in a major win for abortion providers.
A “buffer zone” stops anti-abortion protesters or any other types of demonstrators standing outside the clinic or hospital or in the near vicinity.
MPs in the Commons voted 297 to 110 in support of an amendment to the Public Order Bill, which legislates for buffer zones. MPs were given a free vote on the issue due to it being a matter of conscience.
Clare Murphy, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), a leading abortion provider, said it was “delighted” politicians had voted to “protect women, protect healthcare staff, and establish buffer zones”.
BPAS has campaigned “tirelessly” for nearly 10 years to eradicate “anti-abortion clinic harassment”, she added.
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Some good news from England and Wales.