“Read with Neil Mackay” graphic asks why Scotland has not decriminalised abortion, highlighting reform efforts amid populist attacks.

Humanist society unveils scale of evangelical lobbying at Holyrood in Herald article on fight for abortion decriminalisation

September 7, 2026

Reproductive Rights

Our Policy and Campaigns Officer Joe explained to Neil Mackay that the scale of lobbying by evangelical groups at Scottish parliament drastically increased over the last parliamentary term, with another jump likely across 2026-31.

Humanist Society has explained to investigative journalist Neil Mackay the scale of evangelical lobbying at Holyrood, and the risk this poses for our current campaign to decriminalise abortion.

Humanist Society has monitored lobbying by evangelical groups at Holyrood and found a dramatic increase. CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) as well as the Evangelical Alliance and Christian Institute engaged in “intense lobbying in the last parliamentary session and are all backed by significant funding”, Joe told Neil.

It illustrates their growing influence. Some MSPs may be persuaded simply due to the level of access they have at Holyrood.

In the 2021-26 Holyrood Parliament session, CARE had 118 lobbying entries compared to 13 in the 2016-21 parliamentary session. The Evangelical Alliance had 81 compared to 12, and the Christian Institute had 52 compared to 19. Between 2019 and 23, funding for CARE in the UK ran to more than $13 million. For the Evangelical Alliance, it was $16.5m and $20m for the Christian Institute.

“That’s what we’re up against,” Joe explained to The Herald. “It illustrates their growing influence. Some MSPs may be persuaded simply due to the level of access they have at Holyrood.”

We provided this information as part of Neil Mackay’s Big Read for The Herald on Sunday on 6 September 2026. We spoke as part of a group including Engender, Back Off Scotland, and other groups campaigning to decriminalise abortion in Scotland.

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Headline image description: Snip of Herald front cover showing picture of woman’s hands holding pregnant stomach and text reading: “Why is Scotland the only part of the UK not to decriminalise abortion? Inside the fight to change the country’s abortion laws amid populist attacks”