Backlash as Scotland report proposes legalising sex-selective abortion up to birth

Image credit: Chris Robert / Joshua Hoehne via Unsplash

A report that proposes a change to the abortion law in Scotland has received backlash as it seeks to allow for abortion for any reason until 24 weeks, and could also see sex-selective abortions become legal until birth.

The current abortion law in England, Wales and Scotland, allows for abortion until 24 weeks under specific grounds, whereas sex-selective abortion, when the mother aborts because of the sex of the baby, is illegal as it is “not one of the lawful grounds for termination of pregnancy”.

According to Right to Life UK, a report, which was commissioned by then First Minister for Scotland, Humza Yousaf, proposes that women could have an abortion for any reason until the 24 week limit, which would include sex-selective abortions. The report states “that no specific reference is made to sex-selective abortion within any updated abortion legislation”, meaning that no provisions will be put in place to prevent sex-selective abortions from taking place.

It further recommends that after 24 weeks up until birth, two healthcare professions, which could include doctors, nurses or midwives, can determine if having an abortion is “appropriate”. It is confirmed that "appropriate" is also defined as the woman's current and future “social circumstance”, which can also include sex-selective reasons.

The report also states that “There should be no offences for anyone ending their own pregnancy and any common law offences should be repealed”, meaning that it will be legal for a woman to have an abortion for any reason, including a sex-selective abortion, until birth. 

Sex-selective abortions usually target baby girls due to some cultures placing more value over an unborn baby boy.

Right to Life UK also reports that this report was also undertaken by the Abortion Review Expert Group which consisted of 13 people, where most either worked for or were on the board for BPAS, the largest abortion provider, or have a history of campaigning for abortion.

However, the report has received a range of backlash from politicians, including Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch saying that  “this is a totally disgusting idea”. 

Conservative party equalities spokesperson Claire Coutinho also said, “Killing babies because they are the ‘wrong’ sex is a dystopian nightmare”. 

“Sex-selective abortion has no place in Britain, and adopting it would be the very opposite of progress. Time and again, this version of equality seems to leave women at the bottom of the pile to protect other cultural sensitivities”, she added.

“The idea that this barbaric practice could be put into place to appease certain minority groups that prefer boys over girls is morally repugnant. Scotland slides further into the moral abyss”, said Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary. 

Richard Holden, the former Chairman of the Conservative party said, “We all know what sex-selective abortion means. It should have no place in any society and should never be allowed in Britain”.

Those within the Scottish Parliament also criticised the report, with Russell Findlay, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives saying: “Sex-Selective Abortions (SSAs) are disgusting, morally repugnant, sinister and barbaric. They cannot be allowed in Scotland”. 

Independent Member, Jeremy Balfour said, “These proposals are deeply alarming. They would allow sex-selective abortion right up to birth: an extreme departure from European norms that puts women at risk and leaves unborn children with no protections at all”.

“Scotland should be supporting women, not creating a system where a baby’s fate can be decided solely on whether they are the ‘right’ sex”.

Annie Wells MSP also said, “Too many women already face pressure from partners or relatives about pregnancy decisions. We should be tackling coercion and safeguarding vulnerable women, not creating loopholes that could make that pressure even harder to resist”. 

The report also received backlash from those within the media, including Kathleen Stock who said, “Aborting a baby because it’s a baby = silence. Aborting a baby because it’s a girl = howls of outrage. From baby’s perspective, there isn’t much difference though”. 

Columnist Allison Pearson said, “Civilization is dismantling itself brick by brick”.

“[The chair of the review] claims it is ‘potentially harmful’ to prohibit sex-selective abortion. Because murdering baby girls – what this amounts to – is fine obviously”, she added.

Dia Chakravarty wrote in the Telegraph expressing her concerns over the proposal. In a separate X post she said: “My mother received messages of condolence because she hadn’t borne a son. South Asian feminists have dedicated their lives to fighting sex-selective abortions within their communities. But their Western “allies” would side with this evil practice to seem “anti-racist”.”

My mother received messages of condolence because she hadn’t borne a son. South Asian feminists have dedicated their lives to fighting sex-selective abortions within their communities. But their Western “allies” would side with this evil practice to seem “anti-racist”.

— Dia Chakravarty (@DiaChakravarty) November 15, 2025

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, also said “It is extremely worrying that sex-selective abortion could be legalised in Scotland as part of these harmful recommendations”.

“This report is one of the most extreme in UK parliamentary history, drawn up by radical activists whose views do not align with public opinion and who stand to gain from their proposals. What is being suggested is an extreme and inhumane change to the law, which polling shows is widely opposed by women”.

Sandra Parda of the Life Institute commented, saying: “This is a horrifying suggestion, especially as the UKs current abortion law, with its limitations, already has existing issues that could put women at risk of being pressured into an abortion she does not want.”

“It is well known that sex-selective abortions target innocent baby girls, so people need to question the contradiction of those who claim to be advocating for women when they push for abortion, whilst also allowing for their destruction, both in the womb and out.”

“However, it is very positive to hear of the backlash this proposal has received, especially from politicians themselves. People leading our country need to be an example and speak out when such unjust and discriminative proposals are brought forward.”