A pro-life group has claimed that Scotland will become an abortion tourist destination if the laws around termination are changed.
The Don’t Stop A Beating Heart campaign, which opposes any extension to the current UK termination laws, made the claim as it raised concerns over plans to devolve abortion legislation to Holyrood.
Campaigners have urged Nicola Sturgeon to use the new powers to decriminalise abortion. However, the First Minister has said she has no plans to amend the laws around terminations.
A new campaign called ‘We Trust Women, has now been launched by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, calling for the current legislation to be changed. It has been backed by groups including the Royal College of Midwives, Fawcett Society, Maternity Action and End Violence Against Women.
A spokeswoman for Don’t Stop A Beating Heart said: “The reality is that women are often pressurised to have an abortion – abolishing abortion law will mean more pressure on women in Scotland to submit to abortion, and less real support for pregnant mothers.
“Already, well in advance of the transfer of legislative authority, we are hearing a clamour for further extension of the existing excessively liberal law. This could see abortion legalised from the existing 24 week limit, in most cases, up until the point of birth.
“That’s why pro-life supporters from different backgrounds, people of faith and none, in addition to concerned organisations and individuals have decided that we must stand together in the face of this onslaught.
“In their statement, the abortion lobby call for “Woman centred care” - but abortion is a traumatic and damaging procedure, carrying physical and mental health risks for women.”
The campaign group claimed that 8.5m abortions have taken place in the UK since 1967, with 11,475 occurring in Scotland.
The campaign’s spokeswoman added: “If we keep going at the current annual pace of abortion then in less than three years Scotland will reach the 500,000 mark since the passing of the Abortion Act in 1967.
“If the law is liberalised that total will be reached much sooner, fuelled by woman travelling from all over the UK and beyond to make use of the relaxing of the laws.
“That would be a tragedy for every unborn baby whose life is taken. It would also be a tragedy for this country if its reputation throughout the world is to be sullied as we become known as an abortion tourist destination.”
Scottish ministers are due to get control over abortion laws as part of the Scotland Bill, which is currently going through Westminster.
Labour has said that it will try to delay the devolution of abortion by a year to allow time for a review into the potential consequences.
Under the 1967 Act it is illegal for a women to have an abortion without the permission of two doctors. However, campaigners want this law changed so that the permission of only one doctor is required.
Ann Furedi, the chief executive of Bpas, told the Herald: “Scotland has a proud tradition of progressive abortion policy and practice, and devolution provides the Scottish government with the opportunity to once again lead the way.
"One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime in the UK.
"The ability to end a pregnancy has enabled women to live their lives in the way that they see fit and bear children at the time they think is right.
"It is high time we recognised this by taking abortion out of the criminal law, and making clear that we trust women to make their own decisions about their own lives and bodies.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it has no plans to change the law on abortion, adding: "Abortion is provided to all women in Scotland who require it, within the law.”
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