Health Secretary Neil Gray says Vice President JD Vance 'wrong' amid 'ludicrous' claims on abortion buffer zones

Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray has hit back at US Vice President JD Vance saying he is “wrong” following his “ludicrous” claims regarding abortion buffer zones.

Donald Trump’s deputy criticised Safe Access Zones in Scotland during a speech accusing the UK and Europe of a “retreat” on free speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

The Safe Access Zone is a 200 metre wide area outside abortion clinics to stop anti-abortion protesters gathering, leafleting, holding vigils, or showing graphic images to people near the sites.

Speaking in Germany, Vance said: “Now, I wish I could say that this was a fluke, a one-off, crazy example of a badly written law being enacted against a single person, but no.

“This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish Government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called Safe Access Zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law.

“Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime. In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.”

But speaking to STV News on Saturday, SNP MSP and Holyrood government minister Gray rubbished the claims as “ludicrous” and insisted the laws are in place to protect women’s rights to access healthcare while also protecting freedom of speech.

He said: “The vice president is wrong when it comes to abortion buffer zones, we need to make sure we protect women’s rights to access healthcare and that includes their right to access abortion services.

“This does not impinge on people’s right to protest, it just means that they have a place to do it that doesn’t impinge on women’s rights to access healthcare services.

“It doesn’t proscribe silent prayer or prayer in people’s houses as he suggested, as that would be ludicrous.

“So I think he is wrong, he has put forward comments that are not correct and actually the legislation has been very carefully crafted to make sure we protect women’s rights to access health services while making sure we also protect freedom of speech in the context that means people can still safely access services.”

In Scotland, offences covered by buffer zones apply to public spaces. However, people in private places could potentially be prosecuted.

Scottish Government guidance says that someone who does something in a private place within the boundary of a zone that can be seen or heard in public areas could be committing an offence if it is done with the intention of influencing, impeding, or harassing service users.

Gillian Mackay, who introduced the law in the Scottish Parliament, criticised Vance calling his speech “total nonsense and dangerous scaremongering”.

She said: “This is shocking and shameless misinformation from VP Vance, who is either very badly informed about what my Act has done or he is knowingly misrepresenting it,”.

“He is one of the most powerful people in the world, but he is peddling total nonsense and dangerous scaremongering.

“Nobody should be intimidated or harassed when accessing healthcare, and I am proud that my Act has put a stop to the graphic banners and the protests that far too many people were being forced to pass in order to access healthcare.

“The government that Mr Vance represents is a clear threat to reproductive rights. He has a shocking record on abortion and many other issues. He has supported calls to reduce access to healthcare and has even argued for a national ban on abortion rights across the US.”

Proponents of Safe Access Zones say women using a clinic can feel intimidated and distressed by the presence of someone standing in the area praying, even if they are not speaking.

Critics argue the rule undermines the right to freedom of religion and free speech.

Police Scotland is responsible for enforcing the legislation and those who break the law can be fined up to £10,000 under summary court procedure or fined an unlimited amount under solemn procedure for more serious cases.

On Friday a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Vice President’s claim is incorrect. Private prayer at home is not prohibited within Safe Access Zones and no letter has ever suggested it was.”