STATEMENT: The Leadbeater Bill will harm far more than it helps

Growing euthanasia practice in Canada spells a deep crisis of meaning
  • UK Parliament debates amendments on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill , including on conscientious objection
  • Bill faces serious backlash, including from Royal College of Psychiatrists, who announced this week it “cannot support” the Bill, citing “many, many factors” that need addressing
Growing euthanasia practice in Canada spells a deep crisis of meaning

The following statement may be attributed to Robert Clarke, Director of Advocacy for ADF International:

“A truly compassionate society protects the vulnerable to live – it doesn’t steer them to death. The assisted suicide bill now advancing through Westminster is a dangerous proposal that threatens to devalue, endanger, and ultimately extinguish the lives of those who deserve better.

Today’s debate in parliament exposed just how unworkable this Bill is. There was lengthy discussion on a new clause to ensure a right as basic as conscientious objection.

Among those speaking, Anneliese Dodds MP and Tim Farron MP pointed to the official data from Oregon: over half of those who took state-prescribed lethal drugs did so because they saw themselves as a “burden”. No safeguards are strong enough to prevent implicit – or even explicit – pressure leading to the same result here.

Rebecca Paul MP, a supporter ‘in principle’ of assisted suicide warned that this bill will ‘harm far more people than it will help’ and that ‘those people who will be harmed will be the most vulnerable in our communities’.  The Commons should listen. If even one person is killed on the NHS because they feel pressured to do so, this law will mark one of the gravest human rights failures of our time.”

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Pictured: Robert Clarke

Grandmother arrested in Scottish abortion “buffer zone” reacts as parliamentarians push for extension of censored public space 

  • Parliamentarian Gillian Mackay tells BBC she wants the government to consider extending Scottish “buffer zones”, despite already being the largest in the world
  • Glasgow grandmother became first to be arrested under the new laws after holding a sign reading “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” – says she is “prepared to go to prison” 
  • U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance criticised Scottish law, raising concerns that residents in “buffer zone” areas could be punished for even praying within their homes 

GLASGOW (16 May 2025) – The grandmother arrested for holding a sign reading “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” nearby a Glasgow hospital in March has spoken out following political manoeuvers to expand Scotland’s censored “buffer zones” – despite the zones already being the largest of their kind in the world. 

Rose Docherty, 74, was handcuffed, arrested, and driven away in a police car for standing peacefully with a sign inviting conversation with anyone who wanted to approach her in February 2024. A video of her arrest went viral internationally. 

“Of course, there should be laws against harassment, and we all condemn such behaviour. But merely offering conversations near a hospital is not a crime."

- Rose Docherty, arrested for offering consensual conversation in a "buffer zone"

Docherty was standing within 200m of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where a censorial “buffer zone” is enforced. The buffer zone prevents harassment, intimidation, and “influence” of a person’s decision to access abortion services. Docherty denies engaging in any of the prohibited activities. 

Speaking to BBC Scotland’s “Scotcast” this week, Rose Docherty said that the experience had been “alarming”.  

In an exclusive broadcast with the BBC, Docherty explained that she had studied the Scottish “buffer zones” law, which came into force in 2024, and had carefully chosen a sign that did not break any prohibitions. On the day in question, she stood quietly and peacefully near the hospital, not approaching anyone, in order to ensure that any conversations that took place were consensual.  

“I gave consideration to what I was doing…I looked at the law and saw what it said I couldn’t do, and thought, ok, well this is what I can do…I can offer to listen, and if anyone wants to come and speak to me, they can do so, only if they want to come and speak with me ,” she told the podcast. 

Speaking later to ADF International, she reflected: “there was nothing in my conduct or sign that could reasonably be considered harassing, alarming and distressing”. 

The offence of engaging in “influence” within the buffer zone (section 4 Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024) carries a maximum sentence of an unlimited fine. Docherty also told the BBC that she would even be “willing to go to prison” over what had happened. 

Commenting later on her words, Docherty added: 

“I informed BBC that I would be willing to go to prison on the issue because I am unshakeably convinced that nobody should be criminalised for a peaceful offer to speak on any public land in Britain.

“This is a free and democratic society, and no threat of imprisonment will change my mind that what I did was right, completely harmless and in accordance with the purpose and intention of international human rights laws.” 

Parliamentarians begin efforts to expand censorial zone

Video: Rose Docherty was arrested in February 2025 

Gillian Mackay MSP, the parliamentarian responsible for introducing “buffer zones” legislation in 2024, has now suggested that the Scottish government consider expanding the area of prohibition on “influence” outside hospitals. 

Claiming that members of the public have said they still feel intimidated by the presence of pro-life individuals 200m from a hospital, the Green Party parliamentarian said: “I think it’s appropriate that we take those concerns seriously and the government take a look at whether an extension is appropriate or not.“ 

Responding to recent efforts to expand the buffer zone, Docherty said “I believe it wouldn’t matter where we stood…it wouldn’t matter how far they pushed the ‘buffer zone.’” 

Speaking to ADF International, she added, “It wouldn’t matter where we stood –201 meters, or 500 meters away – it seems the authorities would still try to crack down harshly and unfairly on individuals because the government simply disagree with their point of view. This is unjust – of course, there should be laws against harassment, and we all condemn such behaviour. But merely offering conversations near a hospital is not a crime.” 

A Scottish government spokeswoman told the BBC the act allows ministers to extend the size of a buffer zone if it is decided that the existing zone is not adequate. 

She added: “However, before taking such a step, it is essential that ministers are satisfied such an extension is appropriate. 

“We have engaged with the relevant health board to understand any impacts the anti-abortion activity outside of the safe access zone may be having on patients and staff.” 

Buffer zone law could ban prayer within homes – “depending on who’s passing by the window”

In February, Gillian Mackay MSP admitted that prayer by a window in one’s own home could be an offence within a buffer zone – depending on who is passing by. 

Again speaking to BBC’s “Scotcast” Podcast, the Green Party Politician repeatedly denied that prayer was being criminalised under the law. But when asked if “performative prayer” with “clasped hands”, visible from a window, could be prosecuted, she responded: “well, that depends on who’s passing by the window…” 

The admission came despite previously accusing US President JD Vance of spreading “shameless misinformation” when he highlighted concerns that “even private prayer within [people’s] own homes may amount to breaking the law” in his Munich Security Conference Speech earlier this year. 

Lois McLatchie Miller, Scottish spokesperson for ADF International, said:  

“The ‘buffer zones’ law is fundamentally flawed when it comes to undermining basic freedoms of speech, thought, and religion. We all stand firmly against harassment, which is already illegal  – but the law goes far beyond that in preventing people from praying or holding consensual conversations in large public areas of Scotland.  

“We were concerned when such legislation was proposed that we’d witness a slippery slope of censorship. Less than a year after the bill passing, already, politicians are considering expanding the ‘buffer zone’ area, which would restrict free speech in an even larger public area. Who are the authorities to determine which conversations members of the public do or don’t want to have?” 

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PICTURED: Rose Docherty; Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF International

Criminality of prayer within a home “depends on who’s passing the window” claims author of the Scottish “buffer zones” law called out by JD Vance 

  • Gillian Mackay MSP claims visible prayer by a window at home could be a crime if within 200m from an abortion facility, depending on who is “passing the window”
  • Comments come weeks after Vance called out Scotland’s censored “buffer zones” – Mackay previously described his concerns about prayer at home as “misinformation”
Gillian Mackay, interviewed on BBC “Scotcast” podcast this week. Full episode available on BBC iPlayer, clip begins 24.07

EDINBURGH (26th February 2025) – Gillian Mackay MSP, the politician who authored the Scottish “buffer zones” law which forbids “influence” within 200m of an abortion facility, has admitted that prayer by a window in one’s own home could be an offence – depending on who is passing by. 

Speaking to BBC’s “Scotcast” podcast this week, the Green Party Politician repeatedly denied that prayer was being criminalised under the law. But when asked if “performative prayer” with “clasped hands”, visible from a window, could be prosecuted, she responded: “well, that depends on who’s passing by the window…”

“Clearly, the “buffer zones” law is fundamentally flawed when it comes to undermining basic freedoms of speech, thought, and religion.”

- Lois McLatchie Miller, Scottish Spokesperson for ADF International

US Vice President JD Vance recently highlighted the censorial nature of the law, referring to letters that had been sent to people’s homes warning them of the laws being put in place: 

“…this last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called “safe access zones,” warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law.  

Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thoughtcrime.  

In Britain, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” 

Was J.D. Vance correct?

Mackay claimed that the Vice President was spreading “shameless misinformation”, and in the same Scotcast interview, pointed out that “nowhere in that letter does it say private prayer.” 

The letter refers to a prohibition on activities that would “intentionally or recklessly…influence somebody’s decision to access” an abortion facility. 

When pressed as to whether visibly praying from a window could meet the threshold of “influence”, Mackay admitted that it would depend on who was passing by the window at the point of prayer. 

Commenting on the interview, Lois McLatchie Miller, Scottish spokesperson for ADF International, said: 

“Clearly, the “buffer zones” law is fundamentally flawed when it comes to undermining basic freedoms of speech, thought, and religion. We all stand firmly against harassment, which has been illegal for many years – but the law goes much too far in preventing people from praying, or holding consensual conversations, in large public areas of Scotland. 

“Gillian Mackay confirmed that “performative” prayer could be a crime, “depending on who is passing by the window”. The accusation of prayer being “performative” rather than genuine lies in the eye of the beholder. Who are the police to doubt the genuineness of somebody’s faith, based on where they are located, and the position of their hands? 

“ J.D. Vance was right to raise concerns – this law is an illiberal travesty.” 

74-year-old grandmother arrested in Glasgow "buffer zone"

On 19th February, a 74-year-old woman was arrested for holding a sign in a Glasgow “buffer zone” reading: “coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want.” 

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 made “coercive control” illegal, recognising the profoundly harmful effects it can have on individuals and society. Over 6,640 charges related to this behaviour have been reported to the Crown Office between April 2019 and 2023. 14% of women have undergone coercion when it comes to making a decision about abortion – that’s about 1 in 7.   

Commenting on her arrest, Rose Docherty said:

“I held a sign that read “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want”. Everyone has the right to a consensual conversation. I simply made myself available for a chat, should anybody like to approach me and speak about any matter on their mind. I didn’t breach the buffer zone – I didn’t harass, intimidate, or even seek to influence anyone. I simply stood there, available to speak with love and compassion.  

“It isn’t right to deprive anyone of the right to take up my offer to talk. And it isn’t right to censor zones within our country from thoughts, beliefs and conversations that authorities may simply disapprove of. Buffer zones aren’t “pro-choice” – they deprive women of the choice to have a chat outside the clinic. That isn’t right.” 

Watch the footage of the arrest here.

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PICTURED: Rose Docherty; Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF International