For Tessa Marshall, the conversation around abortion isn’t abstract or theoretical, it’s deeply personal. The 28-year-old Senedd election candidate recently shared that having an abortion at 15 didn’t just alter the course of her teenage years, it shaped how she understands women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and access to healthcare today.
Speaking during a school hustings event in Cardiff, Marshall chose to openly reference her experience while addressing sixth-form students, a decision she later described as intentional. For many in the room, it was the first time they’d seen a political candidate speak candidly about a subject often treated as taboo.
According to reporting by BBC Wales, Marshall explained that going through the procedure while preparing for her GCSEs was life-changing, not only because it allowed her education to continue with minimal disruption, but because it opened her eyes to the realities of choice and access. She has said that without abortion services, her life would likely look very different today.
At HerTangz, what stands out isn’t just the honesty, it’s the timing. In a global climate where reproductive rights are increasingly politicised, Marshall’s decision to speak openly feels deliberate. She’s not framing abortion as an abstract policy debate, but as healthcare that directly impacts futures, education, and personal agency.
Marshall has linked her experience to gaps in sex education, saying she wasn’t properly informed at the time. That lack of information, she argues, is still a problem. For her, the issue goes beyond individual choice and into systems, who has access to knowledge, who gets supported, and who is left navigating major decisions without the right tools.
Her political awakening, she says, came from understanding how fragile these rights can be. Pointing to developments in the United States, where abortion access has been rolled back in several states, Marshall has stressed that progress isn’t permanent and must be actively protected.
Abortion laws across the UK differ, with access varying depending on location and circumstances. That reality, Marshall believes, makes education and proximity to care even more critical. She has spoken about the importance of ensuring people can access reproductive healthcare close to home, without unnecessary barriers.
Perhaps most striking is her insistence that young people deserve accurate, judgment-free information — regardless of cultural or religious backgrounds. In her view, empowerment starts with knowledge, and silence only creates risk.
This isn’t about shock value. It’s about visibility. By choosing to speak, Marshall is pushing back against the idea that women’s healthcare experiences should remain hidden or softened. Whether or not voters agree with her politics, her message is clear: conversations about reproductive rights aren’t optional — they’re necessary.
And right now, they’re happening whether we’re ready or not.
