Abortion concerns persist in Scotland

The Scottish National Party (SNP) may still liberalise abortion – despite dropping a draft motion on the subject from its national conference amidst conflicting concerns from pro-life and pro-choice groups.

The draft, leaked in September, had proposed the implementation of recommendations by the Scottish Abortion Law Reform Expert Group, which critics say would technically legalise abortion up to birth.

While the Scottish Greens have called for the Government to move forward with the group’s recommendations, opponents to the motion have criticised the group’s lack of pro-life voices and adoption of a “non-regression” principle, meaning that its recommendations can only move towards the advancement of abortion “rights”.