Helen McDade on laptop camera. She looks at the screen against a plain white background.

Humanist Society responds as footage reveals Reform UK’s new Health Committee Convenor comparing pregnant women to feral cats

June 15, 2026

Last week’s Herald exclusive shows extraordinary anti-abortion views and language of incoming chair of Holyrood’s Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee, Helen McDade of Reform UK.

Reform UK has scored a massive coup over recent weeks in obtaining the chairs of the health and economy committees at Holyrood. The newly confirmed chair of the health committee, Helen McDade MSP, will steer consultations and hearings on highly sensitive legislation during the current parliamentary term. This includes a potential bill to enact the recommendations of the abortion law reform expert group.

Humanist Society Scotland is therefore joining civil society and medical groups in expressing profound alarm at recently discovered comments made by McDade during a Logos “Christian hustings” prior to May’s elections.

McDade implied that women lie about the extent of their pregnancies to access abortion care. She also peddled the ‘born alive’ myth that some foetuses survive abortion and are left ‘gasping for life’ in hospitals.

These include describing decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales as “appalling” and recalling that it made both her and her husband cry. McDade also used a comparison with feral cats being spayed to outline her position on abortion. McDade implied that women lie about the extent of their pregnancies to access abortion care. She also peddled the “born alive” myth that some foetuses survive abortion and are left “gasping for life” in hospitals. Finally, McDade suggested that “Indian families” practice sex-selective abortion.

It is extremely concerning that an individual who has freely promoted harmful misinformation about abortion care is now in this position of power. McDade’s anti-abortion views appear to reflect a wider anti-abortion agenda within Reform UK. The party’s UK Spokesperson for Education, Skills, and Equality, Suella Braverman, has described decriminalisation in England and Wales as “repulsive”, stating Reform would “reverse it immediately”.

Humanist Society Scotland CEO Janine Hunt said:

“It is deeply shocking to hear the views on abortion expressed by Reform MSP Helen McDade MSP during a pre-election hustings in March.

“The current parliamentary term will see Holyrood’s health committee overseeing the passage of sensitive and complex legislation with profound implications for reproductive health and women’s health in Scotland.

“We understand parliament contains a diversity of views. However, the open expression of such extreme positions by someone now expected to fulfil the role of health committee convenor in a professional and even-handed way is incredibly troubling.

“Humanist Society will work constructively and tirelessly to ensure the health committee respects the Scottish public’s overwhelming support for a woman’s right to choose, and addresses unacceptable gaps in abortion healthcare.”

Watch video of Helen McDade comparing pregnant women to feral cats

This story was reported in Third Force News.

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