MPs back abortion clinic buffer zone law

[Leavesofautumn]

Look! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63302710

"Plans to enforce buffer zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales have been backed by MPs. Under the proposed law, harassing, obstructing or interfering with any woman attending an abortion clinic would become a criminal offence. Protesters found guilty of breaching 150-metre buffer zones around clinics would face up to six months in jail."

Thanks to Stella Creasy who proposed the new rules.

They voted 297 in favour and 110 against. The 110 who voted against it included Jacob Rees-Mogg, what a surprise.

Obviously this would take time to implement, so in the meantime, you may be interested to know that a new local buffer zone was introduced in Bournemouth last week. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-63218107 - which is great news of course, but these things really need to be made into a national law. I really hope it happens.

I mean I’m all for it and I can see why women, some of them having to make the hardest decision of their life would be upset but I’m also a massive bitch and part of me still thinks just tell these bloody Bible bashers to fuck off. But that’s me.

I'm bumping this post as I'd like everyone to know about it.

Yes, I wrote to my MP Kate Green who said she definitely supported it. Those assholes need to leave women alone.

Can anyone please link to how the mps voted? im looking on 'theyworkforyou' but I can't see it?

Totally agree with this and would like to question why the bulk of these protesters appear to be middle aged men 😡😡

Excellent news.

@dammit88 votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1368

@PeekAtYou Thanks for this link. So all the Labour ones voted yes, and although quite a lot of Tories voted yes, nearly all the no votes were Tories.

Ugh good. Targeting (often vulnerable and already anxious) women making decisions about their own bodies. Awful people.

This is important. We have an PSPO around a clinic on our road. The day it came into law, the protestors set up on the border of it to do a prayer vigil for 40 days, blocking pathways and distressing clinic visitors and local people. They are despicable and I am glad their presence will soon be illegal.

Really pleased to see this pass but equally horrified that it's even necessary.

Hurray! That's properly good news.

I assume they decided on 150 m as a practical distance, so that anti-abortionists can still exercise free speech but without harassing people using the service.

I do wonder if 150m is enough.

And no, 150m is not enough, but it is a start.

The protestors locally have positioned themselves right on the edge of the zone and continue their “vigil”. I cannot describe how their present upsets clinic users and neighbours. They sway, lay down in the road, block the footpath and display placards. They have redoubled their efforts since the zone was planned. It is harassment of an entire community. They are perfectly welcome to do their praying in their church or their home, but have no place doing it in such a way in public.

Poor ickle women.

Poor you having to inhabit your head. Must be like living in a cesspit.