Table of Contents
- A Transatlantic Campaign Takes Shape
- The Unlikely Alliance with Reform UK
- British Public Opinion on Abortion and Reform UK
- From U.S. Courts to British Politics
- Sources
A Transatlantic Campaign Takes Shape
The American conservative organization instrumental in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has now set its sights on Britain. According to a recent report by The New York Times, this group is actively working to influence the UK’s political landscape, aiming to roll back decades of established abortion access in the country .
This marks a significant strategic shift for the group, which previously focused its efforts entirely on the U.S. judicial and legislative systems. Their new mission represents a bold attempt to export their ideology across the Atlantic, leveraging political connections in a nation with a very different legal and social framework on reproductive rights.
The Unlikely Alliance with Reform UK
At the heart of this new campaign is an emerging partnership with Britain’s Reform UK party. Once a fringe movement, Reform UK has gained considerable traction in recent polls, positioning itself as a force for “radical change” in British politics . The U.S.-based organization sees this ascendant party as a crucial conduit to advance its anti-abortion agenda within the UK Parliament.
This alliance creates a direct link between the MAGA wing of the Republican Party in the United States and the populist, right-wing platform of Reform UK. The collaboration is not just ideological but appears to involve strategic coordination, sharing of campaign tactics, and potentially financial support, though the latter has not been publicly confirmed.
British Public Opinion on Abortion and Reform UK
The group’s ambitions face a significant hurdle: British public opinion. Abortion has been legal in Great Britain since 1967, and a strong majority of the public supports its legality, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. Any attempt to drastically curtail access is likely to be met with fierce public resistance.
Furthermore, while Reform UK is gaining in popularity for its stance on issues like immigration and national sovereignty, it is also widely perceived as “weird and extreme” by a large segment of the electorate . Tying its brand closely to a foreign-backed campaign to restrict abortion rights could alienate moderate voters and damage its broader political prospects.
From U.S. Courts to British Politics
The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a landmark victory for the U.S. anti-abortion movement, achieved through a decades-long strategy of appointing conservative judges . In the UK, however, there is no written constitution, and abortion law is a matter for Parliament, not the courts. This fundamental difference forces the group to adapt its playbook.
Instead of a legal battle, the new focus is on the political one. The strategy now involves building a coalition of sympathetic MPs, primarily within Reform UK, to introduce and champion legislation that would impose new restrictions on abortion access. Their goal is to shift the Overton window on the issue in British politics, making once-unthinkable proposals seem mainstream.
Key Differences in the Abortion Landscape
| Country | Legal Framework | Primary Arena for Change |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Constitutional right (formerly) | Courts (Supreme Court) |
| United Kingdom | Statutory law (Abortion Act 1967) | Parliament (Legislature) |
Sources
- The New York Times: They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.
- British Social Attitudes Survey on Public Opinion
- Public perception data on Reform UK .
- Context on the overturning of Roe v. Wade .
