UK government abortion move 'unnecessary' and would breach devolution settlement, DUP and Sinn Fein warn

Sinn Fein says move 'unnecessary'

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is reportedly set to compel the Executive to provide abortion serivces (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Gareth Cross

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has warned if Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis intervenes to force Stormont to commission abortion services it will set a "dangerous precedent" going forward and represent a "dangerous breach of the devolution settlement.

Sir Jeffrey said if the Secretary of State is allowed to intervene on matters where the Assembly and Executive cannot reach a consensus it would leave Northern Ireland's political institutions "constantly undermined".