February 4th 2022
Katherine O’Brien, Associate Director of Communications and Campaigns at BPAS:
“The past two years have demonstrated how quickly scientific falsehoods and ‘fake news’ can circulate, and how damaging this can be. While we highly doubt that many women would take medical guidance from Mr Rees-Mogg, he nevertheless should correct the record as a matter of urgency. Emergency contraception is not, as Mr Rees-Mogg asserted, an ‘abortifacient.’
It prevents pregnancy, but it cannot end a pregnancy nor damage an existing pregnancy. If Mr Rees-Mogg wants to reduce the numbers of women needing to undergo an abortion, he should welcome any and every opportunity to find ways to improve women’s access to contraception, not attempt to block parliamentary debates on the matter due to his ignorance or personal ideology.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Katherine O’Brien, BPAS Associate Director of Campaigns and Communications, on katherine.o’brien@bpas.org or 07881 265276.
About BPAS
BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/
In 2021, BPAS launched BPAS Fertility, England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service gives those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.
