Decriminalising Abortion Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Decriminalising Abortion

John Hayes Excerpts
Monday 2nd June 2025

(4 days, 6 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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John Hayes Portrait Sir John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con)
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I apologise for arriving late, Mr Dowd, and it is a pleasure to see you in the Chair. My hon. Friend makes a salient point about the ethical issues around extinguishing the life of the unborn. There is another salient matter: the assumption on the part of the advocates of this move that individual autonomy—we see the same with the debate about the end of life—trumps all else and that personal interests, dressed up as rights, are more important than the obligations to others and society along with duties to the country and those greater duties to God. Would my hon. Friend like to comment on the philosophical rather than the theological aspect of that?

Kieran Mullan Portrait Dr Mullan
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Although my right hon. Friend and I might not agree on where we draw the line on each of those very complex issues in different circumstances, I absolutely sympathise with the view that individuals sit within society and we have a wider obligation. Sometimes, laws and our customs are not there just for the benefit of individuals; they are there because of wider considerations.