LONDON—“Our bodies, our lives, our right to decide!” chanted hundreds of young women and men in a spirited abortion rights protest outside Parliament here May 20. Inside, legislators debated several bills to reduce the legal limit for having an abortion from 24 weeks to as little as 12 weeks.

The protest was called by Abortion Rights, with the backing of the Trades Union Congress and the National Union of Students. Dozens also gathered in eve-of-vote pro-choice demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

All the proposals before Parliament to cut the time period when women can choose abortion were defeated.

—ÓLÖF ANDRA PROPPÉ