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Abortion law change unlikely to proceed
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
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The first opportunity to extend abortion laws to Northern Ireland in almost two decades is expected to be killed off by the Government ahead of today’s debate.
An amendment tagged on to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill calls for Northern Ireland’s termination rules to be brought into line with the rest of the UK.
But Commons leader Harriet Harman, who was behind the last bid in 1990, is expected shelve fresh attempts by pushing the amendment to the bottom of the running order when the bill is debated today. It means it is likely it will never get as far as going to a vote.
It would neatly resolve a difficult situation for the Government. Although it is a backbench amendment, tabled by London MP Diane Abbott, Northern Ireland MPs would be unforgiving if it was allowed to go ahead and Downing Street is desperately keen to avoid stirring up anger in Stormont where the current deadlock means tensions are already high.
But such a move will put a halt to the last real opportunity for local women to share the same rights to a termination as those in the rest of the UK for the foreseeable future, it has been claimed.
Ms Abbott said: “I am appalled that the Government would consider such underhand tactics to prevent these important amendments from being heard and voted on.
“The UK Government is not supposed to condone censorship and I will do everything in my power to make sure these amendments are heard.”
Before the debate on the last stages of the Bill begins Ms Harman will table a programme motion that will strangle the proposal by ensuring it runs out of time.
There have been vocal protests against the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland, most recently at the weekend when thousands of pro-life supporters attended the Rally for Life at Stormont.
And yesterday representatives of pro-life groups in Northern Ireland made a presentation of 120,000 petitions to the Prime Minister at Downing Street.
Copies of a DVD from the weekend rally were also presented to MPs at the Houses of Parliament.
Bernadette Smyth, from pro-life group Precious Life, said: “These Rally for Life DVDs have a clear message from the people of Northern Ireland that we do not want the 1967 Abortion Act imposed on us from Westminster.
“The DVDs, together with the petitions presented to Gordon Brown, will ensure that Westminster cannot ignore the fact that there is no will from the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to this part of the United Kingdom.
“Precious Life call on all Westminster MPs to acknowledge the clear pro-life message being sent out from the politicians, the churches, and the people in Northern Ireland.
“We appeal to all MPs in Westminster to respect the democratic process in Northern Ireland and leave any legislation on abortion to be dealt with by our Assembly.”
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I am glad to hear that abortion is still not legal in our wee province. I believe that from the moment of conception, that is a human life and every life is precious...it has mean and it has purpose not matter the circumstances around the conception. Why should this child be punished? I work with teenage mothers in London and in my experience, I think some of the reasons behind unexpected pregancy lies not in the lack of sex education in schools, etc but it is the lack of relationship education. Too many of the girls I work with just slept with guys for the hell of it, to help their self esteem, make them feel wanted, etc
I know this is definately not the case in all situations but I thought that I would point out the need for teaching to start early in schools about respecting yourself and then perhaps as many abortions as happen would not need to.
Posted by Sharron | 25.10.08, 23:48 GMT
Nobody especialy a mother has the right to take life . Abortion is murder . The womb of your mother is supposed to be the safest place in the world . Have you seen the result of an abortion. If we sit back in silence & allow abortion to become acceptable we are as much to blame.
just because this baby is not convient .
every child is a gift and has a fundamental right to life.
i am proud of my country for standing up & saying NO to abortion
Posted by Donna | 22.10.08, 16:08 GMT
What an absolute joke. It's not like the British Government have minded interfering with NI politics before, but now when they actually have this rare opportunity to do some good for the women of NI, who are painfully underrepresented in Stormont as it is, they shy away.
Not giving women this choice reflects a vision of women as children or idiots who don't know what’s best for their own bodies.
Posted by O'Kane | 22.10.08, 15:03 GMT
Everyone in Northern Ireland who objects to tribalistic political blood letting are disenfranchised. That is why I left. What is there to stay for?
Posted by M Spence | 22.10.08, 14:12 GMT
This is an absolute disgrace. Those who are against abortion should not be able to enforce their views on women who do choose to have an abortion and at present have to take the difficult decision to travel to the mainland at their own cost.
Women in NI who are in favour of abortion are effectively disenfranchised with all the major parties in NI coming out in favour of not extending rights to NI and I fully support those MPs in England who have decided to give us a voice. The effective censorship from the British government who do not want to rock the boat in relation to the defective NI executive (who can't even agree to meet) is ridiculous.
The above article does not reflect the fact that there are in NI in favour of extending rights - as always in NI the louder you shout the more you achieve, not a very good or democratic way of running a country.
Posted by M | 22.10.08, 12:18 GMT
Jeff why are you surprised? Britain has real no interest in NI or anything to do with it. Since the main part of Ireland left the union in the 1920's British interest in this island effectively ended. The whole rationale for setting up the Northern Ireland parliament in the 20's was to effectively remove NI completely from British politics. It was only the start of the troubles in the late 60's that forced them very reluctantly to get involved due to sustained international pressure. That's the reality which is unfortunately not very palatable for unionists.
Posted by Jake M, Dublin | 22.10.08, 12:13 GMT
As ever NI is not trated the same as the rest of The United Kingdom.
Shame on our Government
J
Posted by Jeff Healey | 22.10.08, 03:01 GMT
Quite Right The Irish people can make up their own minds - for centuries they have illuminated the World - Maybe now the World will follow their example and Kill the abortion bill and not the Child
Posted by Pirate | 22.10.08, 00:27 GMT