Friday 11 June 2010

99.84% of messages to government oppose Marie Stopes abortion ad

Yesterday in Parliament Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received since 15 May about barring television advertisements for abortion services.

The response of Lord Shutt of Greetland, deputy chief whip in the House of Lords, was:
At 26 May, 603 pieces of electronic correspondence have been received from members of the public about television advertisements for post-conception advice services. Five pieces of correspondence on the same subject have been received from MPs, and none has been received from Members of the House of Lords. Of the total received, 607 representations oppose the showing of television advertisements for post-conception advice services, including abortion services.
Of 608 separate pieces of correspondence 607 people opposed the advertising. The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (pictured above), the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport  has the power to insist that Ofcom controls advertising in this area. (See the Communications Act s. 321). We call upon him to intervene immediately. [cf. Communications Act 2003, (section 321, subsections 5 & 6)]


I urge visitors who've not done so to take action on this matter.  Abortion ads will trivialise abortion. They are an insult to the hundreds of women hurt by abortion every day. Such ads are offensive and will mislead viewers about the reality of abortion.