Crime and Policing Bill
Debate between Lord Pannick and Baroness O'Loan
Report stage
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Read Full debate Crime and Policing Bill 2024-26 View all Crime and Policing Bill 2024-26 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 167-VI(a) Amendment for Report (Supplementary to the Corrected Sixth Marshalled List) - (17 Mar 2026)
Wednesday 18th March 2026
(2 days, 5 hours ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Crime and Policing Bill 2024-26 View all Crime and Policing Bill 2024-26 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 167-VI(a) Amendment for Report (Supplementary to the Corrected Sixth Marshalled List) - (17 Mar 2026)
Baroness O'Loan (CB)
There is another distinction that the House may wish to consider: under the Suicide Act, it is not a crime to take your own life, but we are talking about taking the life of an unborn baby.
Lord Pannick (CB)
Of course, the unborn baby, until it is born, has no legal identity. That is the law of the land. The unborn baby has no legal identity, and the mother is in the prime position in relation to that baby. We have to balance the interests of all concerned. My view is that Clause 208 does contain the balance that I have suggested to the House.