News | Mail Online
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Michael Blackley Scottish
The Scottish Government is considering proposals to allow abortions up to birth with the consent of two doctors or nurses, following a review commissioned by Humza Yousaf last year. Public Health Secretary Maree Todd announced that a public consultation on these radical changes will be launched, but legislation will not be introduced during this parliamentary year. The current law permits abortions before 24 weeks if certain grounds are met and two doctors agree, while the proposed reforms would remove this requirement. The Scottish Government's chief medical officer was not quoted in response to criticism from a pro-life group that the proposed changes would allow for "one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world".
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Scottish Government is considering proposals to allow abortions up to birth, with a public consultation expected to launch soon. According to reports, the proposals would permit abortions any time up to birth with the consent of two doctors or nurses, which could lead to an increase in terminated pregnancies. Last year, a review commissioned by Humza Yousaf when he was First Minister recommended overhauling Scotland's abortion laws. Public Health Secretary Maree Todd said that while the Scottish Government is committed to improving access to abortion services, there are no plans to introduce legislation on reforms during this parliamentary year.
Written for “Scotland Abortion Law Reform” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring abortion services are first and foremost a healthcare matter.
left frames abortion as a healthcare issue
-
However, we have no plans to reform abortion law in 2026-27. Legislation on reforms will not be introduced at Holyrood during this parliamentary year
right acknowledges opposition to immediate reform
-
Law reform is a complex process. We must engage with a wide range of stakeholders and weigh up a considerable volume of evidence, including the recommendations of the expert working group on abortion law reform.
left frames reform as a necessary process
-
This will include delivering the 2026 manifesto commitment to consult on the expert group’s recommendations. This work inevitably takes time, but it is essential to ensure future decisions are driven by evidence, and to avoid unintended consequences.
left emphasizes importance of evidence-based decision-making
-
Ms Todd added the Scottish Government is ‘firmly committed to establishing a later-stage abortion service and improving access to abortion at all gestations, so that women can receive care locally’.
left frames government's goal as improving access to abortion
-
Removing abortion from the criminal law altogether means removing the 24-week legal ceiling. It would leave Scotland with one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world – allowing viable, late-term unborn babies to be aborted right up to birth.
right frames removal of criminal law as extreme
-
‘We are calling on First Minister John Swinney to show true leadership, listen to the deeply held ethical concerns of the Scottish public, and clearly rule out any moves toward abortion up to birth.
right frames opposition as a call for leadership
Leaning score -0.35 for article 6357 (medium confidence, 7 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-07
- Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport
Published: | Updated:
Proposals to permit abortions in Scotland up to birth are being considered by SNP ministers.
The Scottish Government is preparing to launch a public consultation on implementing recommendations of a review carried out last year.
asserted
Government → click → review
Scots could be asked for their views on radical changes to abortion laws which could lead to a huge increase in the number of terminated pregnancies.
uncertain
which → ask → pregnancies
But legislation on reforms will not be introduced during this parliamentary year.
asserted
legislation → introduce → year
Last year, a review commissioned by Humza Yousaf when he was First Minister proposed an overhaul of laws, including allowing abortions any time up to birth with the consent of two doctors or nurses.
asserted
he → commission → doctors
Responding to a question from an SNP MSP about which abortion law reforms will be implemented, Public Health Secretary Maree Todd said: ‘The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring abortion services are first and foremost a healthcare matter.
asserted
services → respond → MSP
However, we have no plans to reform abortion law in 2026-27.
asserted
we → have → 2026
Legislation on reforms will not be introduced at Holyrood during this parliamentary year
Public Health Secretary Maree Todd insists the consultation will take time
‘
asserted
consultation → introduce → time
We must engage with a wide range of stakeholders and weigh up a considerable volume of evidence, including the recommendations of the expert working group on abortion law reform.
asserted
We → engage → reform
This will include delivering the 2026 manifesto commitment to consult on the expert group’s recommendations.
asserted
This → include → recommendations
This work inevitably takes time, but it is essential to ensure future decisions are driven by evidence, and to avoid unintended consequences.’
Ms Todd added the Scottish Government is ‘firmly committed to establishing a later-stage abortion service and improving access to abortion at all gestations, so that women can receive care locally’.
asserted
women → take → care
An abortion is currently only legal before 24 weeks when two doctors agree that certain grounds have been met – such as a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health.
asserted
grounds → agree → health
The review also proposed removing the requirement for any specific grounds to be met and doctor sign-off of any terminations before the 24-week period.
asserted
grounds → propose → period
A further proposed reform was to fully decriminalise abortion by removing it from criminal law.
asserted
reform → propose → law
John Deighan, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, said: ‘Removing abortion from the criminal law altogether means removing the 24-week legal ceiling.
asserted
Removing → say → ceiling
It would leave Scotland with one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world – allowing viable, late-term unborn babies to be aborted right up to birth.
asserted
babies → leave → birth
‘We are calling on First Minister John Swinney to show true leadership, listen to the deeply held ethical concerns of the Scottish public, and clearly rule out any moves toward abortion up to birth.
asserted
We → call → birth
He must reject this attempt to enshrine an extreme, unregulated abortion framework into Scottish law.
asserted
He → reject → law
The Scottish Government’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Gregor Smith, has set out ‘clear expectations’ regarding local abortion service provision ‘at all gestations’ up to 24 weeks.
asserted
officer → set → gestations
In a letter sent to health boards last month, Sir Gregor said there remains variation between health boards on access to surgical abortion, services at later gestations, and the need for patients to travel significant distances.
asserted
patients → send → distances
