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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/jeremy-corbyn-backs-call-for-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones
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Jeremy Corbyn backs call for abortion clinic buffer zones | Jeremy Corbyn backs call for abortion clinic buffer zones |
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The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has backed calls for clinics to have a buffer zone to protect women from persistent anti-abortion protesters, in a letter from 113 MPs from parties across the House of Commons. | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has backed calls for clinics to have a buffer zone to protect women from persistent anti-abortion protesters, in a letter from 113 MPs from parties across the House of Commons. |
The letter to the home secretary, Amber Rudd, which is also signed by the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, the Green party co-leader, Caroline Lucas, and the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, says women “face daily abuse when undergoing terminations”. | The letter to the home secretary, Amber Rudd, which is also signed by the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, the Green party co-leader, Caroline Lucas, and the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, says women “face daily abuse when undergoing terminations”. |
Women are routinely called “murderers” and confronted with oversized pictures of “distressing and graphic yet grossly inaccurate images of aborted foetuses”, the MPs’ letter said. Groups also film women entering and leaving the clinics and hand over misleading medical information, it says. | Women are routinely called “murderers” and confronted with oversized pictures of “distressing and graphic yet grossly inaccurate images of aborted foetuses”, the MPs’ letter said. Groups also film women entering and leaving the clinics and hand over misleading medical information, it says. |
Labour MP Rupa Huq, who coordinated the letter on the 50th anniversary of the UK’s Abortion Act, said she was prompted to act after repeated protests outside a clinic in her Ealing constituency in west London. | Labour MP Rupa Huq, who coordinated the letter on the 50th anniversary of the UK’s Abortion Act, said she was prompted to act after repeated protests outside a clinic in her Ealing constituency in west London. |
Earlier this month, Ealing councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to stop the anti-abortion groups from protesting outside a Marie Stopes clinic in the borough, including potentially using a time-limited public space protection order (PSPO), normally used to prevent antisocial behaviour such as street drinking. | Earlier this month, Ealing councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to stop the anti-abortion groups from protesting outside a Marie Stopes clinic in the borough, including potentially using a time-limited public space protection order (PSPO), normally used to prevent antisocial behaviour such as street drinking. |
The letter to Rudd, which has been signed by prominent Conservative MPs including Michael Fabricant and Zac Goldsmith as well as the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said the protesters’ intention was not to change the law but to intimidate. | The letter to Rudd, which has been signed by prominent Conservative MPs including Michael Fabricant and Zac Goldsmith as well as the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said the protesters’ intention was not to change the law but to intimidate. |
“This is not a protest in the usual sense of the word,” the letter says. “These people are not seeking to change the law – they are not campaigning to change the minds of our colleagues, or encourage parliament to review the legislation. Instead, they are targeting individual women who have come to a difficult decision and who are seeking to access lawful healthcare.” | “This is not a protest in the usual sense of the word,” the letter says. “These people are not seeking to change the law – they are not campaigning to change the minds of our colleagues, or encourage parliament to review the legislation. Instead, they are targeting individual women who have come to a difficult decision and who are seeking to access lawful healthcare.” |
Rudd’s constituency in Hastings has an abortion clinic that has been targeted by protests. The anti-abortion group Abort67 was criticised in February after it was reported to have set up a Facebook live-stream opposite the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) clinic in the East Sussex town. | Rudd’s constituency in Hastings has an abortion clinic that has been targeted by protests. The anti-abortion group Abort67 was criticised in February after it was reported to have set up a Facebook live-stream opposite the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) clinic in the East Sussex town. |
The group said it was filming members attending its protest, not the women entering the clinic, but the clinic said the filming risked identifying victims of domestic or honour-based violence. | The group said it was filming members attending its protest, not the women entering the clinic, but the clinic said the filming risked identifying victims of domestic or honour-based violence. |
The MPs’ letter calls on Rudd to bring forward legislation to introduce buffer zones outside abortion clinics and pregnancy advisory bureaux, with protesters instead given space in town centres or Speakers’ corner. | The MPs’ letter calls on Rudd to bring forward legislation to introduce buffer zones outside abortion clinics and pregnancy advisory bureaux, with protesters instead given space in town centres or Speakers’ corner. |
Speaking in the Commons last week, Rudd said protests must not be allowed to interfere with a woman’s legal right to abortion. “It is imperative that women have access to safe and legal abortion,” she said. | Speaking in the Commons last week, Rudd said protests must not be allowed to interfere with a woman’s legal right to abortion. “It is imperative that women have access to safe and legal abortion,” she said. |
“Although we of course agree that public protest must be allowed, it must not in any way be allowed to intimidate women on the way to receiving the health services they want. I am watching with interest how Ealing council, which is the first to do this, manages, and we will see whether any additional support is needed. It is a local matter, but as I say, I am very interested to see the outcome of this.” | “Although we of course agree that public protest must be allowed, it must not in any way be allowed to intimidate women on the way to receiving the health services they want. I am watching with interest how Ealing council, which is the first to do this, manages, and we will see whether any additional support is needed. It is a local matter, but as I say, I am very interested to see the outcome of this.” |
The Home Office said: “This government is absolutely clear that the right to peaceful protest should not extend to harassment or intimidating behaviour. Where vulnerable women are harassed or intimidated, simply for exercising a legal right, we are clear that the police and the local authority should deal with it. | The Home Office said: “This government is absolutely clear that the right to peaceful protest should not extend to harassment or intimidating behaviour. Where vulnerable women are harassed or intimidated, simply for exercising a legal right, we are clear that the police and the local authority should deal with it. |
“We will carefully consider the important issues raised in this letter, and work with the police and local authorities to ensure they are able to make full use of their existing powers to prevent this kind of behaviour. We will also explore whether any further action is needed to ensure clinic staff and patients can go about their lawful business free from harassment, offence or alarm.” | “We will carefully consider the important issues raised in this letter, and work with the police and local authorities to ensure they are able to make full use of their existing powers to prevent this kind of behaviour. We will also explore whether any further action is needed to ensure clinic staff and patients can go about their lawful business free from harassment, offence or alarm.” |