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Abbott to continue fight for abortion law reform
Government kills off attempts at change
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
The politician behind the attempt to give Northern Ireland women rights to an abortion today announced she is considering tabling a private members’ bill to bring about the change in the law.
Diane Abbott insisted she would continue to fight for reform after the government effectively killed off any chance of British rules on termination being extend to Northern Ireland.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson ordered changes to the running order of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that mean any attempts to debate and vote on alterations to abortion laws have been pushed to the bottom of the agenda.
As just one afternoon had been set aside for discussion of the last stages of the bill, which contains a host of highly contentious and emotive elements such as the creation of saviour siblings, it means it is highly unlikely that there will be anytime left to reach the amendments on termination.
London MP Diane Abbott, who tabled the amendment on Northern Ireland, said she will now look at bring a private members’ bill or tagging on clauses to the Criminal Justice Bill.
She said: “It is so unfair and so undemocratic. Women in Northern Ireland are being treated as second class citizens.”
Of the government she said: “Like many other women who have been campaigning to extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland, I am appalled by the idea of the Government using procedural tactics to stop the voices of Northern Ireland women being heard on the floor of the House of Commons.
“I have had hundreds of letters and phone calls from people in Northern Ireland supporting the amendment and expecting at the very least a debate on the issue. This is the first time in 18 years there has been the opportunity to amend abortion laws.
“The women of Northern Ireland have been waiting long enough for the chance to change their status as second class citizens.”
Since the 1967 Abortion Act was introduced in Britain an estimated 80,000 Northern Irish women have travelled to England and other European cities to pay for a private terminations.
Claims the DUP secured a deal to prevent abortion being forced on the province as part of a package offered in return for votes on 42 days have been denied by all sides.
Dr Audrey Simpson, from FPA (Family Planning Association) Northern Ireland, this morning accused the government of “not having the guts” to stand up to Northern Ireland’s politicians, with all of the major parties fierce in their opposition to any changes.
“I would really like to know what has gone on behind closed doors. Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP junior minister) said that if Parliament did anything that would impose this legislation on Northern Ireland it would cause a constitutional crisis. But recently Westminster imposed legislation relating to sexual orientation on the Assembly and that did not lead to a constitutional crisis.
“Mo Mowlam said she had three regrets and one of them was not addressing this issue.”
Former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, who resigned from the Cabinet at the last reshuffle, is expected to vote against the Bill today because of her strict Catholic beliefs.
She was granted a leave of absence in May when she was Transport Secretary and therefore expected to back the Bill in accordance with the government protocol of collective responsibility.
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Society has evolved since the days of:
Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Women have much more freedom now and with that frredom comes responsibility. They should be allowed to choose whether to abort or not. The religious right have no right to prevent that choice.
Posted by Graham | 23.10.08, 22:03 GMT
Why punish a girl for having sex. If she wants to have a sexual relationship, she should way up the consequences. Less than 1% of abortions are due to incest and rape. So it's an emotional argument you're trying to win when you brings those into it. If you're pregnant it takes about 2 months to be absolutely sure, and if you want to consider having an abortion, you will have to make up your mind in the next week or so. May i suggest that you wait the full term of the pregnancy, as that way you will have about 7 months then to decide if you want the child, and if then you you decide you still don't want it, you could take it out and shoot it. But alas that would be murder. Maybe better to get rid of it at the start of the pregnancy, after all you can get away with it then.
Posted by Bella | 23.10.08, 19:36 GMT
why punish a girl by having a child. People say if their big enough to get pregnant then there big enough to have a child. i have a boyfriend (serious and happy) yet if i was to fall pregnant we would both agree to a abortion. Firstly with this credit crunch at lot off women have no choice to abortion. People nowdays cannot afford a baby. My cousin had one and i may say it was the best thing she has ever done, she continued on at uni and is now a successful teacher, with a child she would not be able to do this.
I support to being the rule over to Northern Ireland. No matter wat, women will get it done and now it would save the trip to england!!!
Posted by anderson | 22.10.08, 22:10 GMT
There are circumstances in which abortion is undoubtedly the best thing for mother and baby, including rape, incest and fatal abnormalities in the child. To deny this choice to the women of N. Ireland is wrong. Why should the religious right be allowed to force their views on people of different opinion?
Posted by Graham | 22.10.08, 20:19 GMT
There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that abortion is used as a form of contraception. On the contrary, the decision to have an abortion is far from easy especially in Northern Ireland. In addition to the emotional and psycological difficulties experienced by a woman here in coming to that decision, she then has to take on board the so called "united" opinion of society who claim to abhore the very idea of abortion. If you have an open and honest debate you'll find that many will defend a woman's right to choose. The four main parties wrote to Westminster stating that 90% of people here are opposed to abortion, as far as I can ascertain this was based on no research, just a percentage plucked from the air.
The tide is turning, it is an issue relevant to everyone regardless of gender, religion, race or nationality. Does Stephen really believe the best way forward is to maintain the status quo? Export the problem and btw we're women not girls.
Posted by Helen | 22.10.08, 19:50 GMT
Abortion has no place in this country and never will, i agree with abortion under certain circumstances e.g rape, but other than that if the girls are fool enough to get pregnat then they should have to deal with the consequences and stop using abortion as a way of contreception
Posted by stephen | 22.10.08, 16:56 GMT