Sadly the BBC’s view that legal abortion is a “contentious” issue is nothing new (BBC under fire over failure to offer abortion information on Action Line, 15 February).
More than a year ago I was invited to take part in a World at One broadcast “to celebrate” 50 years of legal abortion in Britain. During telephone conversations about arrangements, I learned that an anti abortion MP (who recently, in the House of Commons, made the opposition speech during a 10-minute rule bill designed to update the outdated 1967 legislation) was also invited.
I demurred about participating with her and in the correspondence that followed I wrote: “Whilst I agree there are times and places for pro-choice v pro-foetus debates (and I am still willing to take part in these), I feel that having Maria Caulfield on this particular day and programme would be akin to the BBC having given airtime, during its recent excellent coverage of the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Sexual Offences Act, to a homophobic speaker advocating the return of imprisonment for those committing homosexual acts …
“But I really do believe it would be a great pity if, instead of celebrating the fact that we live in a country that pioneered legislation that has benefited millions of women and has the support of the vast majority of the population, I have to spend time refighting battles that were won half a century ago and refuting distorted facts and figures.”
As a BBC licence holder (as well as, incidentally, having been asked to help with the research for the excellent Call the Midwife programmes involving illegal abortions), I think we have the right to know the precise wording of the corporation’s antiquated rules as well as when and by whom they were put in place.
Diane Munday
Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
• As welcome as the BBC’s alteration of its Action Line information about abortion is (BBC provides abortion details after MPs’ letter, 18 February), it has done it in a rather mean-spirited way.
The webpage’s heading, Pregnancy Issues, has seven items below it, but still not one is related to abortion. Information about abortion can be found only by clicking through three more times to a page on the NHS website.
It appears that the BBC has tried to appease those who complained, in as minimal a way as possible. It has not faced up to the need to make access to advice and resources straightforward and transparent. Seems like we have to keep pushing.
Jane Woddis
Birmingham Abortion Rights Group
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