It should perhaps be pointed out that in the UK abortion is far less of a political issue than in the US. A recent opinion poll showed that 87% of the public agreed that abortion should be permitted, and 77% think that protests in the immediate vicinity of clinics should be banned. When the matter has been discussed in Parliament it has always been a 'free vote', where MPs vote according to their own views rather than as their party instructs them.

This is not only a woman's issue, it is something which affects society as a whole. However men should be conscious that the stakes for them and for women are of course very different.

The UK poll found that attitudes among men and women here are identical on the main question of whether abortion should be permitted.

Folk song is often used to express a political or social message. Often these are more or less aligned with the views of the audience and the performer is taking little risk in singing them. Most of Vin's many social commentary songs were uncontroversial to a typically mainly left-ish folk audience, but this was something he felt strongly about and he had the courage to express a point of view which he knew would probably be unpopular with many of his audience. I doubt he expected to change minds, just to ask people to think about it from a different perspective.

Although his views on abortion affected his career and alienated him from parts of the folk media and some of the public, he remained a very popular and much-loved performer and his unexpected death came as a great shock to many. He is still widely missed. I remember him most fondly for his lengthy and hilarious introductions.