Margaret Thatcher on Abortion

Margaret Thatcher's position on abortion was complex, stemming from her 1966 vote in favour of the bill that became the Abortion Act 1967, which she stated was for abortion under controlled conditions in the early months of pregnancy. As Prime Minister, she expressed a view that she was "perfectly prepared to have the Act amended along the lines of the Select Committee recommendations" because she felt it was operating more laxly than intended. However, she made a firm distinction, finding the idea of abortion being used as a method of birth control "totally abhorrent."

She differentiated her position from the Catholic belief that life begins at fertilization, stating she believed the foetus took on human characteristics only after a few months of pregnancy, and even then, termination might be necessary to save the mother's life, which she deemed a medical judgment. While she maintained this stance against outright abolition, the fact that she did not pursue further legislative change during her time as prime minister suggests a pragmatic approach, even as her views evolved toward being more conservative than her initial 1966 vote implied.