Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the Criminal Justice Bill and telemedicine for early abortion care.

New Clause 1 has been tabled for the upcoming Report Stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. It seeks the removal of women from the criminal law related to abortion. A similar amendment was tabled previously at Committee Stage, but was not voted on and therefore was not added to the Bill.

I know there are strongly held views on abortion and it rightly remains a matter of conscience for individual MPs. My view is that abortion is an essential part of healthcare which is highly regulated and should not be subjected to custodial sanctions.

I personally believe there is a clear consensus on the need to take action to stop women being jailed for getting an abortion when they are doubtless at their most vulnerable – a position also supported by a range of health professionals. There needs to be a legal framework with time limits in place to prevent late-term abortion. It is important we get the law exactly right and ensure that any changes do not have unintended consequences.

The Government has said its position is that all women in England and Wales should have access to safe, regulated abortion services on the NHS under our laws, including telemedical abortions.

My personal view on access to early telemedical medical abortion is that it is crucial for women’s healthcare. I believe its removal would drastically reduce access to this vital service, and would simply serve to increase the number of later-term abortions.

Women and girls need to have access to safe, high-quality healthcare that supports their wellbeing. This particularly applies to women’s sexual and reproductive healthcare, which is fragmented and understaffed, meaning that outcomes are unequal and women do not always get the high-quality care they deserve.

Thank you once again to all those who have contacted me on this sensitive issue.