Pro-lifers in the Manchester area are calling on the City Council to “revoke the unjust decision” to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) around the Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Wynnstay Grove, Fallowfield. Local SPUC supporters are sending Council Leader Sir Richard Leese a strong message protesting the PSPO, or buffer zone, around the clinic.
SPUC Director of Campaigns, Antonia Tully said: “Local pro-lifers are making their views known about the Council’s decision. Introducing this buffer zone is a major attack on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. And it also means that women approaching the abortion clinic are deprived of a lifeline that could help them choose life for their baby.
“We have given local people a postcard to send to Sir Richard Leese. The postcard features a little girl who is an actual child rescued by pro-lifers outside an abortion clinic in London when they gave help to her mother enabling her to continue with her pregnancy. Pro-life vigils are frontline life-saving work. SPUC is at the forefront of the campaign to defend the right to save lives.”
The PSPO was introduced following a public consultation in October 2019. Pro-lifers were unable to respond to the consultation because it was based on the false premise that harassment and intimidation were taking place at the vigils.
Antonia Tully said: “It was a sham consultation. It totally misrepresented what actually takes place at pro-life vigils. It was strongly bias against pro-life vigils and forced respondents to concede that harassment and intimidation were taking place, when nothing of the kind was happening.
“We are not only fighting to save the lives of unborn babies; we are also fighting for the very existence of the pro-life movement. If pro-lifers are banned from praying peacefully and offering help to women, we will soon be banned from door-to-door leafleting, taking part in pro-life chains and all the other activities we undertake to raise awareness of the tragedy of abortion.”
If you live in the Manchester area who would like a postcard(s) to send to Sir Richard Leese, please email orders@spuc.org.uk with Manchester postcard in the subject line. Please include your name and postal address and the number of postcards you want in your email.