We wish to express our opposition to any lowering of the legal limit for abortion from 24 weeks, which would have a devastating impact on the small number of women who need later abortion.

These are often vulnerable women facing unusual and difficult circumstances such as late diagnosis of pregnancy, rape or domestic abuse or NHS delays. Women need the right to choose on the most fundamental decisions over their own bodies. Forty years since the 1967 Abortion Act was enacted in Britain, an overwhelming majority of people, 83 percent, support a woman's right to choose.

There is a broad opposition to the restriction of the Act from parliamentarians across the political spectrum, from medical professional organisations- the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, from the Commons Science and Technology Committee and the Department of Health and from women's, trade union and student groups across the country.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons retain the existing 24-week time limit for abortion.