Pandering to the protesters

So, let's get this straight. The Tories have accepted evidence that pregnant women have been left distressed by protesters outside abortion clinics and yet have decided not to introduce buffer zones on the grounds that such cases are "not the norm". Perhaps Sajid Javid could enlighten us as to just how much harassment and intimidation is too much?

Diane Abbott branded the decision "a disgusting failure to uphold women's rights over their own bodies", while two different pro-life groups responded in time-honoured right-wing tradition by claiming that "common sense" has prevailed, conveniently ignoring the fact that there's nothing "common" about something with which millions of people disagree.

However anti-abortionists go about protesting, it's clear that their mere presence outside clinics often has a profound and damaging effect on women who are already vulnerable and traumatised - something that Javid and the Tories seem unable (or unwilling) to grasp.