The student community has voted to adopt a ‘pro-choice union’ policy at the University of Manchester Students’ Union.
‘Yes’ won by a landslide with 93% of the voters in favour of adopting the SU policy.
Voting for the Union Assembly motion “Should the SU adopt the we are a pro-choice Union policy?” closed on December 9 at 12 pm.
This comes after a contentious Union Assembly meeting where both sides of the argument debated the policy and the addition of proposed amendments.
The motion passed with 2,392 votes in favour.
Additionally, 173 students voted “No” with a further 40 abstaining.
According to the Students’ Union, 2,605 students participated in the vote.
The implementation of the policy will include support services and advice for students regardless of their next steps regarding terminating their pregnancy or not.
Societies on campus like the ‘UoM Feminist Collective’ encouraged those who believe “bodily autonomy is not a debate” to vote yes to the policy proposal.
Anti-abortion groups such as ‘Manchester Pro-Life’ pushed their members to vote no, believing the policy to not represent “the entire student body”.
Abortion rights have been a contentious issue on campus. Protest action took place in March 2024 as students expressed disquiet at the rise of anti pro-choice groups on campus.
Under the Students’ Union bylaws, this policy will be in place for three years (until 9 December 2027) unless a successful vote to rescind the decision is put forward.
The vote was open for all current students.
The full policy is available online.
