WOMEN in England will have continued access to early abortion care at home after MPs supported a law change.

The Government changed the regulations during the first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 in order to allow women to have medical abortions at home following a phone or video consultation.

Previously, women had to take the first pill in a clinic, restricting abortion access for migrant women, women unable to take time off work or childcare, or who couldn’t travel, or women in difficult or abusive family situations.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid later announced the temporary measure would end with the return to pre-Covid arrangements in August.

After peers voted to amend the Health and Care Bill to retain the at-home service, the Government then put forward its own amendment to allow the Commons a vote on the matter.

MPs supported retaining the service by 215 votes to 188, majority 27 following a free vote on Wednesday.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller and North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse both voted in favour, but member for North East Hampshire Ranil Jayawardena voted against the service being retained.

The emergency measure - which has been proven to be very safe and effective – now ensures that abortion provision is truly accessible to all.

Following the vote, the Basingstoke branch of the Women’s Equality Party (WE) are celebrating the success of the party’s nationwide campaign to permanently legalise early at-home telemedical abortion.

Stacy Hart, WE Basingstoke’s Branch Leader and election candidate for Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, said: “Our UK-wide campaign involved letter writing, petitions and over 7,000 phone calls to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, and we thank every volunteer that pitched in. We are delighted that a majority of MPs, including Basingstoke’s Maria Miller, chose to listen to women today and prioritise their health and safety; there was no reason for the Government to discontinue telemedicine other than bowing to ideological pressure. This is a huge step forward for women’s bodily autonomy rights, which are still under constant threat worldwide.”

Priya Brown, WE Basingstoke’s election candidate for Eastrop and Grove added: “Forcing women back to clinics when the NHS is stretched further than ever before means women would have to wait longer, forcing them to continue longer with unwanted or untenable pregnancies. Many would have to pass the gauntlet of anti-abortion campaigners harassing them outside clinics. And up to 30 women a week would be forced back into seeking illegal abortions because they could not access clinic appointments. WE are really pleased that our campaign, in conjunction with other groups’, has won through today.”