Is Europe next? Concerns over abortion rights rise after Supreme Court overturns Roe
Abortion rights opponents have long been stuck on the fringes of politics in much of Western Europe. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v.
LONDON — Abortion rights opponents have long been stuck on the fringes of politics in much of Western Europe. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has many in the movement hoping that is about to change.
That abortion was thrust into the headlines and onto the agenda has been a big step forward, said Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a co-director of March for Life U.K., an annual event in September in London.
“I feel that for a long time it’s been shut down in the U.K. — in any debate or discussion, it’s been very loaded,” she said. “The fact it’s become a talking point is a massive step forward. Whatever anyone’s views are on abortion, it’s not helpful if we can’t talk about it.”
Vaughan-Spruce said she had noticed more people were contacting March for Life U.K. since the end of Roe — including supporters, donors and women unsure about going forward with their pregnancies. March for Life U.K. said 5,000 people attended its London event in 2019.
Overall, opponents of abortion rights are a small minority: The polling company YouGov found in June that 85% of British adults said yes to the question of whether women should have the right to an abortion, with just 5% saying no.
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