Another day, another Tory reshuffle. Hot on the heels of Rishi Sunak's appointment as PM – taking over from Liz Truss who lasted just 45 days in office – it has been announced that Maria Caulfield will take over as Minister for Women, a role centred around developing gender equality.
But Caulfield's appointment in the role has been met with criticism due to her stance on abortion rights. Caulfield, who is the MP for Lewes, was previously an officer of the all-party parliamentary 'pro-life' group and voted against legalising abortion in Northern Ireland. She also opposed the use of buffer zones around abortion clinics, claiming that protestors are actually there to 'offer support' to those seeking a termination.
In response, Caulfield told Cosmopolitan UK: "I am entitled to a personal view on issues that are sensitive such as abortion and have never hidden these."
What is Maria Caulfield's stance on abortion rights?
In 2018, when Caulfield was the Tory vice-chair for women, she called for a debate on reducing the 24-week time limit for women to receive legal abortions, describing the 1967 Abortion Act as "one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world".
She urged her colleagues in the House of Commons to be "wary of greater liberalisation of the law" surrounding abortions, and said having to receive approval from two doctors before terminating a pregnancy protected vulnerable women.
More recently, she told BBC's Politics Live of the newly-introduced buffer zones at abortion clinics that: "The definition of harassment is open to interpretation."
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"There's a possibility of someone going up to a woman who may be upset or distressed, offering them some comfort, that could then be accused of harassment and face six-months in jail," the Minister for Women added.
Caulfield's concerning stance on abortion rights – and subsequent appointment in a role that could very well impact access to safe abortion in the UK – has prompted many to raise concerns.
"We are absolutely appalled that the Prime Minister has decided to appoint as Minister for Women an MP who has consistently voted to restrict women’s rights," Katherine O'Brien, a spokesperson for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), told Cosmopolitan UK.
"Earlier this month, Maria Caulfield voted against measures to protect women seeking reproductive healthcare from harassment and intimidation at the hands of anti-abortion protesters," O'Brien added. "Our new Minister for Women also voted consistently to deny women in Northern Ireland access safe, legal abortion care in their own country."
"Caulfield has previously stated that she wants to be a 'voice for the unborn child'," O'Brien went on. "It is profoundly disappointing that the Conservative Party did not think that a better choice for Minister for Women would be someone willing and able to speak up for the one in three women who will have an abortion in their lifetime, not an MP who would seek to impose a minority view on their access to healthcare."
When asked about her stance on abortion rights and appointment as Minister for Women, Caulfield told Cosmopolitan UK: "Given we have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world, it is clear that unlike some, I respect parliamentary democracy and accept the results of votes in Parliament where I may have voted differently.
"Freedom to practice a faith is a protected characteristic in this country and it is disappointing but not surprising to see such personal attacks from opposition parties."
Could abortion rights in the UK change?
Following the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade – taking away access to safe and legal abortion for millions of people in America – members of the public in the UK noted that anti-abortionists over here could be empowered by the decision and questioned whether such drastic changes could happen to our laws.
Sadly, it is possible – although unlikely. Earlier this year, former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab ruled out any additional protection of abortion in the new British Bill of Rights – a reform of our current human rights law.
In response, Labour MP Stella Creasy – who formally tabled the amendment to the British Bill of Rights – tweeted: "Why is the Bill of Rights good enough to protect your freedom of speech but not your womb from being interfered with?"
Nevertheless, former PM Boris Johnson said at the time that Roe v Wade was a "backward step" – suggesting that, for now at least, abortion rights here in the UK are protected.
Cosmopolitan UK has reached out to the Cabinet Office for comment.
