By Alan Ferguson

PROPOSALS to stop protests against abortion on streets near hospitals will be debated by Glasgow City Council on Thursday.

Elaine McSporran lodged a motion calling on “buffer zones” to be investigated by the city’s health board.

It follows pro-life campaign group 40 Days for Life holiday daily candle-lit prayer vigils outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for during lent.

In her motion, Ms McSporran says they were harassing and obstructing patients and NHS staff – but the pro-life campaign has challenged the councillor to produce evidence.

Rose Docherty, campaign director, said: “No one is being harassed, no one is being abused – there is absolutely no evidence of this.

“They are not demonstrations, we come to pray peacefully and quietly at the place where life is being lost.

“We want to offer help and support, show there is another way, and people must not feel coerced or pressured that abortion is the only answer.”

The policy proposal has also been condemned by the Catholic Church and the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Scotland (SPUC).

It’s been called “censorship” and “fundamentally undemocratic”.

But Ms McSporran’s motion says the pro-life activity can “intimidate women and jeopardise access to legal healthcare services”.

It also reads: “The council further notes that campaigns against women exercising their sexual health rights can continue without occupying the space immediately outside clinics and services.”

The proposals could see the demonstrations banned from streets near hospitals or abortion clinics.

It is not clear how the policy would be enforced.

If the motion passes at full council on Thursday, the council would ask the Integration Joint Board to explore how buffer zones could be done.

It is understood Scottish Greens councillor Kim Long will second the motion on Thursday.

SNP councillor Ms McSporran said: “Whilst there has been escalation in some parts of the UK, and indeed more activity in Glasgow recently, it is clear that consultation with the community, interested parties and medical professionals will be necessary to allow an informed decision on whether or not a buffer zone should be put in place outside hospitals in Glasgow.”

Michael Robinson, spokesman for SPUC, said: “Scotland has a proud history of respecting freedom of expression and we would hope that Glasgow City Council continue to respect and protect this basic human right.

“For Councillor McSporran to claim that there has been a recent escalation in prolife vigils is simply false and lacks any basis in fact.

“For a local authority to consider introducing ‘censorship zones’ around abortion facilities is completely unacceptable.”

The Catholic Church warned against restricting peaceful protest.

A spokeswoman said: “Individual groups are entitled to exercise their basic rights to freedom of expression and to gather peacefully in public spaces, even if they hold a view that some people disagree with.

“Policies which seek to silence other perspectives are a threat to peaceful protest and are fundamentally undemocratic.”