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History of UK surrogacy law

UK surrogacy law still has its roots in the 1980s.  The Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 was rushed through Parliament as a reaction to the 'baby Cotton' case and it was hoped that restricting the arrangement of surrogacy would smother the practice before it developed (something which has not happened in practice). The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 provided that surrogacy arrangements were unenforceable but created a legal mechanism (parental orders) for ratifying surrogacy ar...

How UK surrogacy law needs to change

Through both Natalie Gamble Associates and Brilliant Beginnings, we are campaigning for better surrogacy law in the UK.  The existing law was never properly considered and, with growing numbers of children born through surrogacy in the UK and overseas, a review is overdue. We need a framework for surrogacy which properly supports all involved, and ensures that things are managed ethically and responsibly.  With improved law in the UK, fewer parents would need to go abroad to...

Why are surrogate children being left legally parentless? (Infertility Network UK Magazine, Autumn 2015)

Natalie's article discusses the legal limbo period after a child is born through surrogacy and the need to apply for a parental order to rectify this

Are contracts and pre-birth orders the way forward for surrogacy? (International Family Law, June 2015)

This article, written by Melissa Elsworth and Natalie Gamble, looks at Jessica Lee MP's proposals for a new system of UK surrogacy law

NGA featured in the Times 'It's all about changing lives - and the law' (The Times, May 2015)

The Times ran a feature about NGA and Brilliant Beginnings in May 2015, focusing on our groundbreaking work pushing the boundaries

BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour: surrogacy law reform (25 April 2014)

Natalie appears on BBC Radio 4 discussing the topic of those who become parents through surrogacy being given employment rights from 2015

Should surrogate mothers still have an absolute right to change their minds? (Bionews, Oct 2012)

UK surrogate mothers have always had a protected status in UK law. Natalie's article, published in Bionews in October 2012, argues that this Victorian approach to surrogacy needs to be changed.

Surrogacy needs a sensible national and international framework (International Family Law, Sept 2012)

In response to the announcement that the Hague Conference was looking into whether to regulate international surrogacy, Natalie wrote a piece for International Family Law (published in September 2012) urging the Hague to understand the practical realities of surrogacy.

The Indian surrogacy industry and why we need to reform UK surrogacy law (Bionews, June 2012)

India is a popular surrogacy destination for UK parents. Our article, published in Bionews in June 2012, explains how things work in practice for UK parents going to India, including the lengthy immigration processes after the birth and the need to secure a parental order.

BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour: surrogacy and maternity leave in Parliament (April 2012)

Jane Garvey from BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour interviews Natalie about Parliament's consideration of maternity leave rights for UK parents through surrogacy

ITV Daybreak – the campaign for maternity leave for surrogacy (ITV, April 2012)

Natalie being interviewed on ITV Daybreak regarding the lack of maternity leave rights for UK parents through surrogacy

After the birth of Elton's baby, can the UK deliver surrogacy reform? (The Guardian, Dec 2010)

In December 2010, Natalie was asked to write a Comment for the Guardian newspaper in response to the birth of Elton John's first child. Her editorial slates UK surrogacy law for its outdated and unworkable framework, and calls for urgent change.

Moving surrogacy law forward (Bionews, Nov 2009)

In 2009, the Department of Health issued a public consultation on changes to the parental order regulations. Natalie's comment piece for Bionews, published in November 2009, highlights the consultation and argues for changes to the draft regulations. (We subsequently gave expert evidence as part of the consultation and this led to a number of key changes, including the award of British nationality to children through surrogacy).

BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour: surrogacy and the need for maternity leave (BBC, June 2009)

Jenni Murray from BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour meets two mums through UK surrogacy and talks to Natalie about why intended mothers have no rights to maternity leave

BBC Radio 4 File on Four – why has surrogacy law not been updated? (BBC, January 2009)

Natalie Gamble is part of Jon Manel's program, finding out if the law is keeping pace with the increasing numbers of British couples who are having children using surrogate mothers, both in Britain and abroad.

The last battle for equality? Gay and lesbian parents to be (3Sixty, Dec 2008)

Natalie's article for 3Sixty magazine from December 2008 talks about the changes to the law for gay and lesbian parents.

Challenging Conceptions – legal parenthood and the HFEA (The Review, Sept 2008)

Natalie's article, written for family lawyers and published in the Review in September 2008, examines the rules on legal parenthood under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

Why UK surrogacy law needs an urgent review (Bionews, April 2008)

Natalie's article, published in Bionews in April 2008 while the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill 2008 was being debated in Parliament, argues that the Bill should be amended urgently to address problems with UK surrogacy law.