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Politicians unite to fight abortion laws

By Sam Lister
Thursday, 16 July 2009

Unionists and nationalists have joined forces to round on English politicians who called for abortion laws to be extended to Northern Ireland.

In an emotive debate at Westminster yesterday politicians raised rape and incest as reasons for bringing the province into line with the rest of the UK while “foetuses being discarded in slop buckets” and consumer babies were raised in the case against.

Martin Salter, a former member of the Northern Ireland Affairs committee who secured the Westminster Hall debate, called on the Government to give women the same rights as those in the rest of the UK.

He said: “It defies belief that somebody could look at 14-year-old girl who had been raped and say they would force that girl to go through the agony of childbirth.”

But he caused fury with his claims “We are pygmy politicians if we do not stand up for people who do not have a voice.”

Mr Salter was accused of wanting devolution but only if that meant the Assembly did what British politicians wanted.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: “The case he is advancing is certainly not something I was sent here to do.

“Many of us in Northern Ireland get fed up with British politicians thinking they are the political Gullivers while we are the political Lilliputians.”

David Simpson, the DUP’s Upper Bann MP, said any move to impose abortion laws on Northern Ireland were “anti-democratic, anti-libertarian and anti-human rights”.

“The message being sent out by some could not be clearer — ‘we support devolution for you but only so long as you do what we like’. I cannot and would not support that kind of cruelty visited upon the innocent.

“Rather than making Northern Ireland more like the rest of the UK on this issue, it would be far better if they campaigned for the reverse and show the same commitment to the life in the womb as they show for consumer parenthood and disposable babies.

“The abortion laws right across the UK need to be reviewed away from the free for all.”

Labour MP Emily Thornberry suggested a compromise would be to pay for Ulster women to travel to Britain for the procedure rather than introduce it in the province.

But Northern Ireland Minister Paul Goggins insisted that would not work in practice as GPs would not be able to refer women for a procedure that was illegal.

He also said the cost would have to be top sliced from the Assembly’s health budget or English, Welsh and Scottish taxpayers would have to subsidise the move. “Any attempt by us to legislate here would undermine devolution,” he added.

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49 Comments

As a woman who 'chose' abortion and had a 'safe and legal' abortion I speak from experience. It wasn't a choice I wanted and the decision to abort was based on misinformation in fear. I wasn't told about the long term detrimental effects of abortion - physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual. I wasn't told that miscarriage was high after abortion due to the cervix being stretched. I wasn't told about the extensive FREE help available in NI to assist me to keep my baby inspite of my 'counsellor' knowing this help was available. I wasn't told that there are at least 28 independent studies by oncologists showing a link between breast cancer and abortion with the highest risk being a first pregnancy, first trimester abortion which is my scenario. The 'choice' of abortion didn't give me equal rights to men. My goodness, have we as women come no further since the suffragette days where in order to be 'equal' we have to kill our children? Abortion is not good healthcare for us

Posted by Kathryn | 20.07.09, 23:36 GMT

Frances - What's so civilised about murdering unborn chidren? Christians believe that human life begins at conception and no "pro-choice" supporter can prove otherwise. Atheists cannot have a meaningful view of 'right' and 'wrong' since they deny the existance of God as the ultimate law-giver and their arrogance extends to making up their own convenient definition of the commencement of human life.

Posted by David | 20.07.09, 21:47 GMT

To cite cases of rape and incest as justification for legalising the killing of a human being is non-sensical. Over 95% of abortions performed in England and Wales are for 'purely social reasons'.
Even in the case of rape or incest - is it right to kill a child for the wrongdoing of his/her father?

Medically it is well documented that abortion is a highly damaging procedure to the woman. She will undergo basically a quasi-labour or other intrusive procedure (ie. she doesn't necessarily 'avoid childbirth'). She is more likely to miscarry in subsequent pregnancies, 30% more likely to develop breast cancer, 3 times more likely to suffer from serious mental illness and 6 times more likely to commit suicide etc etc

I'm for women's rights to not suffer the scurge of abortion.

Posted by Kate | 20.07.09, 21:38 GMT

There is nothing civilised about abortion. It represents the most barbaric and ruthless attack on innocent human life. We in Ireland, both North and South, must stand as lights for the rest of the world. We have to retain our culture of life, and this issue unites both catholic and Protestant. The right to life is the most basic and fundamental right, and this right is inalienable.

Posted by Martin | 20.07.09, 18:44 GMT

This is not an issue about devolution, it is about the fact that NI political parties do not represent the views of vast numbers of women here who support choice and demand the same rights as those which are extended to women in other parts of the UK and, in fact, in most other parts of the civilised world. Women being forced to travel for terminations is barbaric. Abortion law should be amended in NI and our political parties need to recognise that there is a genuine demand for this.

Posted by Frances | 20.07.09, 10:30 GMT

I've been trying to think of a response to this since it was published, but I can't think of anything more than what, to me, is common sense.

Why shouldn't a woman be allowed the choice of what happens to her own body? Personally, I don't want anyone in my uterus that isn't invited, and I have yet to hear an argument that convinces me that I shouldn't have that choice.

Posted by Danielle Topping | 20.07.09, 00:11 GMT

You can't 'choose' to beat your children into a pulp because they annoy you. You can't 'choose' to leave them at home alone, or not to feed them because it isn't convenient to you, and yet you demand the right to end their lives, providing that they are young enough? Get a grip on your knitting.

Posted by Summer | 19.07.09, 09:22 GMT

Laura said "Shame on Sinn Fein as well for buckling on this issue - they claim to be socialist as well as nationalist."

I'm pro-choice and Republican, I just wanted to remind Laura that this debate took place in Westminster and, as Sinn Fein is a party that abstains from participation at Westminster, they would have not "buckled" on this issue as they are not among the parties referred to in this article. No harm, no foul, just pointing it out.

Posted by Danielle | 19.07.09, 05:34 GMT

I am so pleased to see so many Irish women ( and men) supporting the right of women to decide what happens to their bodies ( whatever their politicians would have us believe!). It is a gross injustice that women in Northern and Republic of Ireland are denied this fundamental right. I am so lucky I live in England and have access to abortion services if I should need them. Ireland desperately, desperately needs to come into line with Great Britain on this issue, this is absolutely abhorant!!

Posted by Griselda | 18.07.09, 13:32 GMT

Reading this makes me so angry... NI politicians seem more bothered about showing that they won't be bossed around by Westminster than actually caring about the welfare of their constituents. Martin Salter has got it spot on.

Patrick and Sean - I'm not religious but I'm assuming God doesn't condone rape?!

Posted by Becky | 18.07.09, 09:43 GMT

Nee-Naw,
It's not about telling people "what to do " let alone forcing them in any way. You speak of personal decisions. It is my personal decision to comment that in my view most abortions are due to gross self indulgence and irresponsibility. But I repeat, had abortion on demand been available years ago many of its supporters nowadays would not exist. And that is not an opinion. It is a fact.

Posted by Patrick | 18.07.09, 02:53 GMT

Mr. Salter, the killing of an unborn human being is never a woman's right, except in the minds of the pro-abortion crowd. However, in special cases such as the pregnancy of a 14-year old resuting from rape, there are good reasons for terminating such a pregnancy in its early stages. I'm reminted of the 6 European nuns who were raped in the Congo in the early 60s and were given 'morning after' pills by their Rev. Mother (without the Vatican's permission), so that the unfortunate victims wouldn't be burdened with unwanted pregnancies.

Posted by Seán Mac Curtáin | 18.07.09, 01:43 GMT

As a republican who rarely has anything good to say about DUP,
I have to give credit where deserved. Good work David Simpson
Looking out for the rights of the people of Northern Ireland.

Posted by Fergal MacShane | 18.07.09, 01:33 GMT

The only thing which the current legislation achieves is that women who are affluent either independently or because of their family can easily travel to England to have an abortion. Those who come from poor backgrounds can't or have to spend weeks scrimping and saving, begging and borrowing and then go to England. The main difference being they end up having later term, riskier procedures than those who can go earlier because cost isnt an issue.
Its time women in Northern Ireland weren't forced to endure second class status by a male dominated political class.

Posted by Alan Law | 18.07.09, 00:11 GMT

Every woman has the right to choose what happens to her body, Northern Ireland prevents basic human rights by banning abortion. Would polititions rather have children like Baby P brought into this world unwanted and unloved or living under the poverty line because mum can't afford to feed another mouth? Thousands of women every year have not only the hardest descision to make to have an abortion but the additional trauma of travelling far from home often alone and made to feel an outcast because of a perfectly normal descision. This should be legalised now, and Northern Ireland must realise that woman have the right to protect their own state of mind as well as making the right personal descision for them.

Posted by L G | 17.07.09, 19:34 GMT

No one will be having abortion "imposed" or "forced" upon them. If a woman does not want to have an abortion, she does not need to have one. You cannot impose choice, only a lack of choice, and that is what is occurring in this country.

Posted by Alasdair | 17.07.09, 19:25 GMT

It's madness that Ulster is not in line with the rest of the UK and in fact the vast majority of other European countries on this issue. Nobody enjoys the idea of abortion but the availability of some degree of choice is vital in a civilised country.

Posted by Dawn | 17.07.09, 18:19 GMT

Get a grip!
Politicians in NI must take stock of NI's achievements in terms of increasing the democratic process and equal rights since 1998, and never, ever stop progressing: this is NOT about wounded ego, or about point scoring against Westminster. Gullivers against Lilliputians? Come on now!
A pro-choice legislation is about enabling women to assume full responsibility for their bodies and lives. Women do not have abortions for fun. Women are intelligent human beings and deserve support whichever path they take.
They should be able to freely make the decision to be mothers. Or not. Full stop.
No woman should feel that they have to resort to butchering themselves out of despair because of reactionary, insular attitudes to the issue of freedom of choice.
If you dare to learn from a strong and intelligent woman, read about Simone Veil's life: http://paris.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/02/04/Simone-Veil-:-a-European-life

Posted by Fran | 17.07.09, 17:38 GMT

We need to have free and safe access to abortion in Northern Ireland! Enough hypocrisy!

Posted by Sophie | 17.07.09, 16:53 GMT

And it's worth remembering that a significant number of women who have abortion are actually mothers in their 30s and 40s, who have had and brought up children and just can't have another.

Jan - excellent point. The Unionists whine about how much they want to be part of the UK. Well, that means adhering to UK laws, and giving people in NI the same medical care and access to procedure as the rest of the UK! They can't have it both ways - either NI is part of the UK or it isn't.

Shame on Sinn Fein as well for buckling on this issue - they claim to be socialist as well as nationalist.

Posted by Laura | 17.07.09, 15:43 GMT