London abortion march: ‘More opposition than ever’

More than 10,000 pro-lifers marched through Westminster on Saturday, where they faced an unusually robust counter-protest from pro-choice activists.

Marching under the theme "abortion hurts the family", Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Anglicans and many evangelicals were among those who gathered at the Emmanuel Centre. As they made their way to the Houses of Parliament, singing Christian hymns, they were joined by a chanting pro-choice presence, many of whom were part of a counter-protest organised by Abortion Rights UK.

One small pro-choice group disrupted a Mass at Westminster Cathedral attended by 15 Catholic bishops, with protesters entering the cathedral.

"There was more opposition visible on the day than we have seen previously, but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing," Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, co-CEO of March for Life UK, told en.

"In many ways, it’s an indication that abortion is becoming more of a live public issue. For too long there’s been an extraordinary complacency surrounding abortion in Britain but that seems to be changing."

Abortion rose dramatically in the public consciousness as an issue last year, when an amendment was added to the Crime and Policing Bill which would stop women receiving criminal penalties if they ended their own pregnancies. MPs voted in favour of the amendment.

In the aftermath of this year's march however, Vaughan-Spruce remains hopeful.

"There is a growing confidence among pro-lifers that we have both the right and the responsibility to speak up for life and on Saturday this was demonstrated in the joyful witness of over 10,000," she said.

"It was incredibly encouraging to have so many attendees, and many different Christian denominations were represented among them."

Evangelical Lisa Barr of Both Lives UK, a movement initiated by the Evangelical Alliance, was among those who voiced prayers on the main stage.

She reflected on social media: "It was an honour to stand alongside church leaders from across the country as we prayed for those impacted by abortion, and that we would see a culture that supports and upholds the dignity and value of both women and their unborn children."