Liberal Democracy councillors in Southwark are calling on Labour councillors to join them in submitting a response to a government consultation on abortion clinic ‘Safe Access Zones’.
A ‘Safe Access Zone’, as defined in the 2023 Public Order Act, is used to “prohibit certain activities within 150 metres of an abortion clinic or a hospital that provides abortion services”.
The consultation opened 11th December 2023, 14 months after the House of Commons approved the Public Order Act and Safe Access Zones, and closes 22nd January 2024.
The consultation will be used to give police forces guidance on how the Government defines behaviour which ‘influences’ or ‘obstructs’ any person accessing, providing, or facilitating abortion services.
The delays to the implementation of Safe Access Zones have allowed protests to continue outside abortion clinics, including in Lambeth.
In Brixton, the number of protests taking place outside the MSI Reproductive Choices Clinic has increased dramatically since the Roe vs Wade judgement in the United States.
In December 2023, the Liberal Democrat group in Lambeth also called for cross-party support in responding to the consultation, but as of yet have received no response from the Labour or Green groups.
Cllr Donna Harris, leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, criticised the use of phrases like ‘pro-choice’ and ‘pro-life’ consultation, saying they were “reminiscent of vitriolic arguments in the United States”.
Commenting, Deputy Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrat group Cllr Rachel Bentley said:
“Abortion is a private matter of women’s health and we must reject any attempt to stir up a culture war which puts the UK on the same path as the US. We must come together as councillors to ensure that those needing access to such services are protected from intimidation and harassment.”
