MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in a landmark decision.
Abortion is currently legal up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, after which a pregnant woman can only get an abortion in extreme circumstances, such as the risk to the life of the mother.
The woman can face prosecution if the pregnancy is terminated outside of these circumstances.
But in a major decision, MPs have voted to decriminalise abortions for pregnant mothers, effectively ending prosecution for the offence.
The change will be made after Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower introduced an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, June 17.
Decriminalisation is a contentious issue as pro-Life organisations have argued that it will make late-term partial birth abortions more common.
The current 24-week limit will remain, abortions would still require the approval and signatures of two doctors, and any healthcare professional acting outside the law or a person who may coerce a woman into an abortion will remain criminalised.
A majority of all MPs voted in favour of decriminalising abortion for the mother responsible, with the amendment passing by 379 votes to 137, a majority of 242.
Of the MPs in Berkshire, only Jack Rankin, the Conservative MP for Windsor, voted against it, with no vote being recorded by Tamanjeet Singh Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough.
All the other voted in favour of the amendment.
Justifying her vote in an email response to those who had raised concern about the issue, Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, said: “I support the right to choose.
“At the same time, I respect there are strongly held views on abortion. I think it is right that votes on this matter are treated as issues of conscience for all MPs.”
Ross Mackinnon, the Conservative runner-up for the Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency at the general election last year, condemned the decision.
Councillor Mackinnon (Conservative, Bradfield), shadow leader of West Berkshire Council, posted on X/Twitter: “All MPs, shamefully nine from my own party, who voted today to legalise abortion of a full term, healthy baby, should be made to watch a video of a real partial birth abortion. I have no words.”
He later posted: “The current parliament is a sick death cult.”
You can see how your MP in Berkshire voted below:
MPs who voted for the amendment:
Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading Central
Olivia Bailey, Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire
Yuan Yang, Labour MP for Earley and Woodley
Peter Swallow, Labour MP for Bracknell
Clive Jones, Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham
Lee Dillon, Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury
Joshua Reynolds, Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead
MPs who voted against
Jack Rankin
No vote recorded
Tan Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough
Reading has seen its share of pro-Life and pro-Choice activism in recent years.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has a branch in the town, and has previously engaged in roadside protests and prayer vigils opposite the BPAS Abortion Clinic in London Street.
Activism outside the clinic has stopped following the introduction of exclusion zones outside abortion centres last October.
Meanwhile, pro-Choice stickering with the message ‘keep your rosaries off our ovaries’ have been spotted in the town centre.
