“The public is very clear – the 95% of women who have early abortions should not have to justify their choice, and the small number of women who tragically have abortions towards the end of pregnancy need our support, not to be sent to prison. It is time that our law reflected this, and came into line with the rest of western Europe.”

According to latest figures, the number of abortions in England and Wales has risen sharply since 2021, increasing by 17%, from 105,488 between January and June 2021 to 123,219 over the same period in 2022.

An existing proposal to fully decriminalise abortion and end prosecutions for terminations after 24 weeks made by Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the home affairs committee, has also gathered traction and would abolish the criminal offence associated with a woman ending her own pregnancy, mirroring the law in Northern Ireland.

MPs have proposed decriminalising abortion up to 24 weeks – but what does it mean for women?