An attempt to add two extreme abortion proposals to the UK Government’s flagship Domestic Abuse Bill has failed.

One would have lifted all restrictions on abortion up to 28 weeks. Another would have allowed both medical and surgical abortions to take place in any location if a woman were in an abusive relationship.

However, a range of MPs with disparate views on abortion argued against the amendment on the basis that abusers would use the law to force abortions on women they were controlling.

Sensing defeat, Labour MP Diana Johnson withdrew the amendment, rather than have it be defeated in a vote, while the other proposal was not even put to a debate.

Additionally Pro-life MP Fiona Bruce MP put forward an amendment calling for a review of the current temporary measures allowing ‘DIY’ abortions. The amendment called for the Government to conduct an “an inquiry into the safety, number, and impact of abortions carried out under the temporary coronavirus crisis provisions where the place of abortion was the woman’s home”.

The Government subsequently agreed to a full inquiry into the temporary ‘at-home’ abortion measures.