World leaders condemn US abortion ruling as ‘backwards step’

Leaders of UK, Canada, France and New Zealand denounce the overruling of Roe v Wade as WHO chief calls its disappointing'

• See all our coverage of the supreme court's decision

The end of constitutional protections for abortions in the United States has been described as a backwards" move by world leaders and health organisations, while handing a huge boost to pro-life groups around the world.

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, all condemned the supreme court's overruling of the landmark Roe v Wade decision, while New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said the decision was incredibly upsetting".