Abortion figures across the United Kingdom reached their highest level on record in 2023, prompting Right To Life to call for a national conversation about our abortion laws in light of what the group has described as a “national tragedy and a national scandal”.
Data released by the Department of Health and Social Care this week shows that 278,740 abortions took place in England and Wales last year, an increase of 26,618 from 2022 — a rise of more than 10%. When combined with 18,242 abortions in Scotland and an estimated 2,632 in Northern Ireland, the total figure for the UK in 2023 stands at 299,614 abortions.
“This is a clear sign that something has gone very wrong in our society,” said Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life. “Every one of these was a human being whose life had potential and every one of them deserved protection.”
The group expressed particular concern over the sharp increase in repeat abortions, which rose to 117,165 in England and Wales — accounting for 42% of all abortions among residents. Robinson described the trend as “deeply troubling”, arguing that the current law is enabling, rather than reducing, harm.
“In recent years, our abortion laws have become even more extreme, and safeguards have been relaxed, endangering women and allowing abortions on a scale that goes far beyond what most people are comfortable with or what the law was designed to permit,” she said.
Among the most striking figures were those related to disability-selective abortions. According to the report, 3,205 abortions were carried out on the grounds of disability in 2023, including 300 abortions at 24 weeks and over. A total of 735 babies with Down’s syndrome were aborted, with 10 of those procedures taking place after the 24-week limit.
“It’s heartbreaking that so many lives are being ended in this way,” said Robinson. “Children are to be prized and celebrated, with full support and compassion offered when pregnancies are unplanned or when a diagnosis of disability is made.”
Right To Life is now urging the government and public to confront the growing moral and public health crisis. “We are calling for a national conversation about our abortion laws,” Robinson said. “After today’s figures, MPs can no longer ignore what is happening or the steady drift into extreme laws. It’s time we woke up as a nation and agreed together that it’s time for change.”
The group has pointed to recent polling which suggests strong public support for reform. “Polling shows that 70% of women want the current time limit on abortion to be lowered and 91% of women want a ban on sex-selective abortion,” the group noted. “Two-thirds of women support the reinstatement of in-person appointments, and only 4% support the current status quo.”
Concerns have also been raised about the long-term effects of the “pills-by-post” system introduced during the pandemic and made permanent in 2022. “Less than four years ago, at-home abortions were made a permanent part of the law by just 27 votes,” Robinson said. “Sadly, concerns that this would put women at risk have been confirmed.”
Right To Life is supporting amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that would reverse the move toward abortion up to birth and reinstate in-person consultations prior to medical abortions. “The clear solution here is the urgent reinstatement of in-person appointments,” Robinson said. “This would prevent women’s lives from being put at risk from self-administered late-term abortions.”
Summing up the call to action, Robinson added: “The Government must urgently bring forward new protections for unborn children and increased support for women with unplanned pregnancies. Polling shows these changes are backed by the public, and this would ensure we are working together as a society to reduce the tragic number of lives that are lost to abortion each year.”
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