Sajid Javid opposed to extending ‘emergency’ measures for abortion pills

The Health Secretary opposes allowing unsupervised chemical abortions at home to become a permanent arrangement, a newspaper has reported.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Sajid Javid is resisting pressure to legislate for temporary DIY abortion rules introduced during the pandemic to remain in place indefinitely.

Chemically-induced abortions involve taking two tablets. The first, mifepristone, is designed to kill the developing baby, and misoprostol then induces a miscarriage to expel the unborn child from the womb.

‘Culture clash’

Former Wales Secretary David Jones said the fact the Government was considering keeping the temporary plans in place “without any parliamentary scrutiny” was “a cause of considerable concern to many MPs”.

Conservative colleague Miriam Cates MP has described the scheme as “the biggest change to abortion law in this country since 1967”.

Junior Health Minister Maggie Throup is also reportedly opposed to letting abortion at home continue.

a cause of considerable concern to many MPs

One source told The Telegraph that there is “a real culture clash” among officials working in this policy area, with support among aides for the position of pro-abortion activists, who are campaigning for DIY abortions to continue.

CofE

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Revd James Newcome, recently wrote to the Government to tell it the Church of England wants the scheme halted at the end of next month.

The Church originally backed the supply of DIY abortion pills on the basis that the practice would be revoked by 24 March, when the Coronavirus Act 2020 is set to expire.