The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has intervened to reverse a ban on advertisements on the London transport network advocating for the decriminalisation of abortion.
Reports suggest that the mayor is seeking an expedited review of a decision by Transport for London (TfL) to stop the advertisements from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) charity, which argued that they might tarnish the Metropolitan police’s reputation.
Bpas had placed these adverts throughout England and Wales, urging individuals to lobby MPs before a pending parliamentary vote on the decriminalisation of abortion.
Approved by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), these campaign posters include real stories of women who faced police investigation and, in some cases, prosecution following termination or pregnancy loss.
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TfL informed Bpas that it would not run the advertisements because they made “serious allegations about the police”, and cited them as not conforming to TfL’s advertising policy. Despite previously allowing pro-choice campaign material on buses, TfL banned this campaign due to negative references about the police.
Bpas has vowed to challenge TfL’s decision and is seeking a comprehensive explanation for the rejection.
A source close to the London mayor stated, “Sadiq, as chair of TfL, will initiate an urgent review of this decision. The voices of women must be heard.”
Bpas CEO Heidi Stewart said, “This campaign was launched in support of Tonia Antoniazzi MP’s amendment to the crime and policing bill, anticipating a parliamentary vote. It’s crucial for MPs to reform our abortion law to prevent more women from experiencing the trauma and the risk of criminalisation from police investigations.”
Antoniazzi, the MP behind the amendment, expressed her dismay at TfL’s decision and has written to Khan, welcoming his intervention.
The amendment to the crime and policing bill aims to remove the criminal law related to abortion in England and Wales and is supported by various charities, trade unions, and medical colleges.
Another amendment by Labour MP Stella Creasy also seeks to decriminalise abortion and establish a human right to access it.
In response to the Pilling, Antoniazzi insisted that neither the police nor the wider criminal justice system can be trusted with abortion law and reiterates her call for urgent legislative change to protect women.
Stewart of Bpas stressed the importance for women’s voices, especially those affected by the current law, to be part of the discourse leading up to the parliamentary vote. She urges the mayor to fast-track action to permit their charity to share these stories urgently.
