Abortions set to be decriminalised by MPs in ­historic vote next month

MPs are poised to decriminalise abortions in a ­historic vote next month.

They are likely to unravel a 19th century law under which women can be prosecuted for ending pregnancies beyond the legal limit.

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Under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act — women can be locked up if they do not have authorisation from two doctors and terminate outside the 24-week limit.

About 100 women have been investigated for such offences since 2019 and one was jailed last year.

The Crime and Justice Bill amendment, put forward by Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, would end such prosecutions.

MPs of all parties support the Bill.

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YouGov polls show 55 per cent of politicians want to end prosecutions, only 23 per cent support them and the rest “don’t know”.

However, as it is not amending the 1861 law, doctors who perform late terminations could still be taken to court.

Rachael Clarke, at abortion provider BPAS, said: “Our polling does show a huge gender divide, with three quarters of female MPs believing women should not be prosecuted compared to less than half of male MPs.”