SPUC seeks legal advice after SNP cancels conference fringe event

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is pursuing legal counsel after the Scottish National Party (SNP) revoked permission for the group to host a fringe event at its upcoming conference in Aberdeen. The event, which was intended to address the topic of coerced abortion, was cancelled by party organizers following internal concerns raised by SNP members.

An SNP spokesperson stated that the decision was made to ensure that all party members feel comfortable at the conference, acknowledging that the initial approval of the event was a mistake. In response, SPUC representatives argued that the cancellation prevents necessary debate and suggested the party's actions may constitute a breach of the Equality Act. The group noted that they had been in contact with conference organizers since August without prior objection.

This development follows recent controversy surrounding a draft motion from the Scottish Abortion Law Reform Expert Group, which proposed removing abortion from the scope of criminal law. While the SNP recently decided not to vote on this motion at the conference—a move SPUC had previously welcomed—the cancellation of the fringe event has led to further tension between the pro-life organization and the party.