Nearly 400 nurses have protested at a possible move by the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) to support a campaign for abortion on demand. A total of 396 nurses have signed a letter to Janet Davies, the chief executive of the RCN, objecting to moves to possibly align the College with a camp­aign to support the proposed decriminalisation of abortion. “If these measures were to be implemented, it would mean the introduction of abortion on dem­and for any reason, to at least 28 weeks and possibly up to birth,” the letter said. “As nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and nursing students, we object to a new extreme position being forced upon members of the RCN. “We represent a variety of positions on the issue of abortion, but believe that supporting so-called ‘decriminalisation’ is out of keeping with both our duties as responsible professionals and the expressed wishes of British women with regards to the legality and regulation of abortion. This move to introduce a radical abortion law is being promoted by a small group of campaigners with extreme views on abortion,” the letter continued. “Whilst they are entitled to hold the convictions they do, we must not let them impose their agenda on the RCN and risk severely damaging its reputation as a professional body.” The letter follows a survey conducted by the RCN to find out if members would support the decriminalisation campaign. Lord Alton of Liverpool said that it was encouraging for pro-life Parliamentarians “to see a grassroots revolt by nurses”. “These nurses are right that their Royal College should not be using its resources to camp­aign for even more abortion,” he said. “In former times nurses could have relied on their Royal College to protect and represent them. Not anymore. Ideology seems to have taken the place of conscience.”