Pro-life SNP MSP: Review 24-week limit on abortions

A NAtioNAlist MsP has called for the legal 24-week limit for abortions to be reviewed after attending a pro-life protest.

John Mason sparked fury yesterday when he claimed abortion services were ‘seldom essential or vital’ and insisted that some women are ‘coerced’ into ending their pregnancies.

Pro-choice campaigners are calling for 150-metre (492ft) ‘buffer zones’ outside healthcare facilities that provide abortion services in scotland. But in an email to a constituent, Mr Mason said he was ‘unconvinced’ by demands for a new law despite claims women are being harassed by protesters.

the Glasgow shettleston MsP said he had visited a pro-life protest outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and claimed it was ‘more like a vigil’.

But the organisation Back off scotland, campaigning for buffer zones, described Mr Mason’s remarks as ‘really disappointing’.

When approached by the Daily Mail, Mr Mason said that abortion was a ‘tricky area’.

But he said that he believes there should be a review of the 24-week limit for terminations. He added: ‘Abortion clearly is legal and there is no prospect of that being changed. However, i do wonder if we do not need to look at the present 24-week limit. ‘Premature babies are being born and surviving at 23 weeks so it does seem a bit strange that as medicine and science have advanced, no change has been made to the legal time limit.’ He claimed there are ‘very difficult decisions’ to be made when ‘the mother’s life is in danger or where someone has been raped’. Mr Mason said that ‘abortion is a matter of individual conscience’ but he added: ‘We as a society have a responsibility both for the health of the mother and for the health of the baby.’ scottish tory public health spokesman sue Webber said: ‘For an sNP MsP to underestimate the vast importance of access to reproductive healthcare is simply outrageous. We must ensure that women are able to access this vital service free from harassment and judgment.’ labour MsP Monica lennon said: ‘this is a deeply worrying admission from antichoice MsP John Mason and must be investigated by the sNP. those who gather near clinics are causing distress to women seeking abortion services.’

‘Individual conscience’