UK Far-Right Push to Reverse Abortion Decriminalisation

At the end of April 2026 a new law removed criminal liability for women obtaining abortions in England and Wales, following a parliamentary vote that cited professional expertise and evidence from over 50 countries. Within weeks, far-right parties, especially Reform UK, began framing abortion as a cultural-war issue, mirroring U.S. anti-abortion tactics.

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Reform UK leaders Suella Braverman and Richard Tice, mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, and Reform councillor Darren Grimes have publicly opposed decriminalisation. Nigel Farage, while not posting on the issue, appointed James Orr as policy lead and maintains links with the U.S. Alliance Defending Freedom and its former communications director Lois McLatchie Miller, a May 2024 Reform candidate.

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Analysis of 78 Reform-linked X accounts from April 2022-April 2026 shows abortion mentions rose from 758 to 1,063 (40 % increase). The phrase “abortion up to birth” grew from 18 to 190 mentions. Posts generated roughly 153,000 shares, over 800,000 likes and nearly four-fold higher impressions.

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Reform officials have pledged to reverse decriminalisation. Suella Braverman announced a reversal; Richard Tice called the reform “abortion carnage.” Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi warned that re-criminalisation would return women to investigation, arrest and imprisonment. Reform parties declined to answer questions on the legal impact of re-criminalisation.

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Abortion Rights UK chair Kerry Abel said the campaign mirrors a coordinated import of the U.S. anti-abortion playbook and constitutes an organised attack on equality and healthcare. Louise McCudden of MSI Reproductive Choices UK called the phrase “abortion up to birth” legally and medically nonsensical. Polls show nine in ten Britons, including 86 % of Reform voters, support abortion rights, framing Reform’s push as a direct threat to women’s autonomy.

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• “These findings expose a coordinated attempt to import the US anti-abortion playbook into Britain: disinformation, moral panic, inflammatory language and pressure on politicians to roll back rights,” — Kerry Abel, Abortion Rights UK

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• “The phrase ‘abortion up until birth’ is legally and medically nonsensical,” — Louise McCudden, MSI Reproductive Choices UK

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• “Abortion rights are under organised attack, and anyone who believes in equality, healthcare and freedom must take that threat seriously.” — Kerry Abel, Abortion Rights UK

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• “abortion carnage” — Richard Tice, Reform MP

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Reform parties did not answer queries on how re-criminalisation would affect women. The data set excluded posts by Lois McLatchie Miller while she worked for Alliance Defending Freedom, so the volume of anti-abortion messaging is likely under-reported.

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If Reform gains power before the next general election, due by 2029, analysts warn it may seek to reverse decriminalisation, tighten clinic-protest protections and lower the upper-time limit. Public-opinion data suggest such steps would meet strong resistance.

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