MPs are expected to pass the biggest change in abortion law in more than 50 years tonight, removing the threat of prosecution for women who end their own pregnancies.
Currently abortion is a criminal offence in England and Wales unless it takes place before 24 weeks into a pregnancy and with the approval of doctors.
There are limited circumstances allowing a woman to access an abortion after 24 weeks, including when the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.
But in a vote tonight MPs are expected to decriminalising aborting a pregnancy after 24 weeks, or without approval from doctors.
The vote is shaping up to be fractious with two Labour MPs both seeking to decriminalise abortion - Tonia Antonazzi and Stella Creasy - competing to have amendments that will radically alter the law selected.
