NICOLA Sturgeon has labelled comments made by one of her SNP MSPs claiming that medical clinics put pressure on women to have abortions as “wrong”.
Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason has been criticised for saying clinics “push abortion without laying out the pros and cons”.
In an email to campaign group Back Off Scotland, which seeks to implement buffer zones around abortion providers to push anti-abortion vigils further away from patients, Mr Mason said he had attended one of the events to speak to the people there.
He went on to say he believed abortion was “seldom essential or vital”.
Tweeting about the subject at the weekend, he said clinics did not always ask women how they feel.
READ MORE: SNP's John Mason criticised for saying clinic staff 'push abortion'
The First Minister was asked about his comments on Monday, as she spoke to journalists while visiting a new NHS 24 building in Glasgow.
She said: “I disagree with John Mason on the issue of abortion.
“I am a very passionate believer in a woman’s right to choose and I think attempts to take that right away, whether it’s in the United States or any attempts to undermine that right here, are wrong and I disagree with that.
“I also believe women exercising the right to abortion should be able to do so free of intimidation.”
The SNP leader said those who wish to protest abortion should do so outside parliament rather than hospitals, repeated an appeal she made at First Minister’s Questions last month.
Ms Sturgeon was asked about Mr Mason’s statement that some clinics were “pushing abortion without laying out the pros and cons”.
She said: “I think that is wrong. I don’t think that’s the case.
“I don’t think any woman takes a decision to have an abortion lightly.
“And secondly, medical professionals take their duties very seriously and make sure that they do what is required to bring about a decision that is a fully informed one.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has told Mr Mason to stop intervening over the issue, accusing the SNP MSP of "coming across quite divisive".
He said: "I'm reminded of a quote which is, 'see if you stay quiet, people will just think you're stupid'. John Mason should just keep quiet.
"He keeps putting his foot in his mouth. He's coming across as nasty. He's coming across as divisive.
"This has an emotional impact on people across the country. And for it to be done the way it's being done, frankly, is grotesque and I think people across the country can see that. I think a period of silence would be good for Mr Mason."
Mr Sarwar added: "There is broad cross party support for buffer zones, there is wide public support for buffer zones. I think we should move on and get them implemented. This is a horrific situation that many women find themselves in and I think we have a duty to support individuals.
"Having these kinds of protests on the doorsteps of our hospital buildings is just not good enough. If people want to protest they can feel free to protest Parliament. That's where political decisions are made."
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