Nicola Sturgeon says abortion summit was ‘constructive and helpful’

The First Minister convened the summit in Edinburgh on Tuesday in order to ensure women in Scotland can access services without fear, harassment or intimidation.

Representatives from local government, third sector organisations, Police Scotland, the NHS and campaigners were brought together, in addition to cross-party representation.

Discussions were held over the options available for legislative mechanisms to establish buffer zones around clinics in response to anti-abortion vigils taking place as women attend to access services.

The First Minister said there was “no doubt” that the long-term solution is to introduce national legislation, though she said there was a need to get the balance right for such action to withstand “inevitable” challenges from European human rights legislation.

She added that there is “work to be done” over short-term solutions, with local authorities indicating at Tuesday’s summit a willingness to work with the Scottish Government in exploring the use of local bye-laws.

Sturgeon reported that Police Scotland were “very engaged” in the issue, but she noted that she could not instruct them to take action against protesters outside healthcare services.

“The police are operationally independent, I can’t instruct the police to take action,” she said.

“I think the concern that the police have, and I think it is a well-founded concern, is that these are not solutions that can be applied in a blanket way.”

Women’s health minister Maree Todd echoed the feeling of success towards the outcome of the summit, telling the PA news agency that she was confident progress will be made.

But she said that the “devil is going to be in the detail” when it comes to creating legislation to tackle the issue in a way that is compliant with European human rights.

Todd also spoke of her disappointment after her colleague, SNP MSP John Mason, suggested women were being put on a “conveyor belt” and were ill-informed when accessing abortion services.

Mason has voiced his opinions on the matter in the past, having admitted to attending an anti-abortion vigil and claiming abortion is “seldom essential or vital”.

In an interview with Radio Clyde, Mason said it was a “stretch” to refer to vigils held outside healthcare clinics as “protests”, and suggested there had been “some cases” where women have been provided with “very little information” on the process by healthcare professionals.

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Todd said she found the comments to be “quite offensive”.

She added that while she “profoundly” disagrees with Mason’s views, he has a right to express them – but said she felt he is “very much in a minority in our party, and probably in a minority in Scotland”.

The First Minister also spoke of Mason’s right to his own views, but said: “I vehemently disagree with John Mason on this issue. I am very strongly pro a woman’s right to choose.

“I understand that people take a different view. But actually, this is not just about that. This is about access to healthcare.

“We wouldn’t tolerate for any other kind of healthcare, people, as they enter a hospital or a clinic, being subject to intimidation or harassment, and we shouldn’t tolerate it, in my view, for women accessing abortion services.”

Asked about criticism towards his views from fellow SNP figures including Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Mason argued that the party is a broad church.

He said: "The SNP and the wider Yes movement are a broad church or a big tent or however you would like to phrase it. Clearly, our society contains both pro-life and pro-choice views so I believe it is only right that a national party and our national parliament contains this variety of views as well.

"I accept that I am in a minority on this issue but I believe even minorities in society deserve to have their voices heard."