MPs call for 'modern abortion law' during emergency debate on Northern Ireland - as it happened

MPs from all sides called for legal reform to give women right to choose

Stella Creasy leads emergency debate in Parliament on Northern Ireland abortion laws

MPs called for reform of abortion law during an impassioned debate in Westminster about the continuing ban in Northern Ireland.

Labour backbencher Stella Creasy urged parliament to consider repealing the two sections of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 that criminalise "procuring the miscarriage of any women".

It follows the Republic of Ireland's referendum on abortion, which saw 66 per cent of voters back lifting the ban in that country.

The Walthamstow MP asked for a bill to be brought to the house within 150 days as she told the Commons: "This is a statement of intent. We want deeds not just words. The women of Northern Ireland, indeed the women of England and Wales, deserve modern abortion law."

Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, said she personally backed abortion reform but argued that the Northern Ireland Assembly must be restored to consider the issue.

"The Prime Minister has been clear in her support for women's rights in respect of access to safe abortions and she welcomed the referendum result in Ireland," said Ms Bradley.

"We are in agreement that the best way forward for Northern Ireland is through locally accountable politicians making important decisions through devolution, and for the people of Northern Ireland to have their say on the devolved issues which affect their daily lives."

Penny Mordaunt, minister for women and equalities, said MPs had sent a message to Northern Ireland's politicians that if they do not act on the issue, "we will".

Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who supported the request for an emergency debate, told the Commons of her "incredibly hard decision" to have a termination.

She said: "I was ill when I made the incredibly hard decision to have a termination: I was having seizures every day, I wasn't even able to control my own body, let alone care for a new life."

Ms Allen asked: "How can it be that Northern Ireland will soon be the only part of Great Britain and Ireland where terminations are to all intents and purposes outlawed?"

Speaking of the women of Northern Ireland, she said: "This has become their moment and they will have my unequivocal support."

Opposition to repeal of the 150 year-old law came from Tory and DUP MPs who argued that it would "impose" one of the most liberal abortion regimes anywhere in the world.

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, argued that repeal would also remove safeguard imposed by the Abortion Act 1967.

The Congleton MP added: "Already we have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world and yet campaigners want to I believe liberalise them further.

"Colleagues should be under no illusions, repealing these sections would effectively pave the way to review comprehensively our current abortion legislation, not just for Northern Ireland but also for England and Wales.

"We could see abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, that would be wrong and we should resist it."

The DUP's equality spokeswoman Emma Little Pengelly and Tory MP Maria Caulfield both argued that it would introduce "abortion on demand for any reason up to 24 weeks."

DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and MP Sammy Wilson quoted the statistic that 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland due to the Abortion Act 1967 not being introduced.

Sir Jeffrey said: "I am proud of the fact that there are so many people alive in Northern Ireland today because we have a law that respects the rights of both women and of the unborn child and we will maintain that position."

He added: "There are strong voices on both sides of this debate, this is a devolved issue - it should be left to the people of Northern Ireland to decide."

The three-hour debate culminated in an overwhelming vote in favour of noting that parliament had considered the role of parliament in repealing sections 58 and 59 of the 1861 law.

However it does not bind the government to take action and Theresa May has already insisted the issue is a matter for Northern Ireland's leaders.

[5 June 2018 12:39 · Kristin Hugo]

NEW: Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, is giving a statement on the expansion of Heathrow airport. He confirms the government will back a third runway. 

The Cabinet discussed the matter this morning and gave its backing to expansion plans. It creates a dilemma for Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, who has consistently and vocally opposed a third runway at Heathrow. Reports suggest he could be allowed to vote against the plans, but don't be surprised if he conveniently arranges an overseas trip that mean he would miss the vote..

[5 June 2018 12:55 · Kristin Hugo]

Chris Grayling confirms Parliament will have to approve the government's plans for Heathrow expansion. This will be followed by a comprehensive planning permission process, he says.

This does not rule out expansion at other airports too, but each case will be assessed on an individual basis, he says.

[5 June 2018 13:01 · Kristin Hugo]

Labour's Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, starts his response to the Heathrow statement by saying Chris Grayling is only in his job because "the prime minister is too weak to sack him", adding that the transport secretary "doesn't have the confidence of the House".

He says Labour will only back Heathrow expansion if four tests are met: that it expansion significantly increases capacity, that noise and air quality issues are fully addressed, that the UK's climate change objectives are met in full, and that the benefits are felt across the country.

He says Labour will "follow the evidence" as to whether these tests are met, adding: "We will not rely on the assurances of the Secretary of State for Transport, whose assurances are not worth the Hansard they are written on."

[5 June 2018 13:21 · Kristin Hugo]

A bit more on what Chris Grayling told the House of Commons about the government's support for Heathrow expansion:

• Expansion will only go ahead if Heathrow agrees to a 6.5 hour ban on night flights - this is "non-negotiable"
• Consent will also only be given if expansion will not prevent the UK meeting its air pollution objectives
• "The time for action is now" - Heathrow is already full and other London airports are not far behind
• This is leading to Heathrow falling behind global competitors, "impacting the UK's economy and global trading opportunities"
• Local residents will benefit from £2.6bn in compensation, noise insulation and local improvements - 10 times bigger than the 2009 proposal for a third runway and "comparable to some of the most generous packages in the world".
• Expansion will deliver a £74bn boost to passengers and the wider economy
• Up to 15 per cent of slots on the new runway will be domestic UK flights

[5 June 2018 13:49 · Kristin Hugo]

Labour MP Sarah Champion has called on the government to do more to support victims of child abuse.

She told the Commons: "I've now spoken to two home secretaries, two prime ministers, countless ministers, the MoJ was in Rotherham last week.

"Still we are not getting the cash we need to enable at current count 1,520 victim to enable them to turn from victims to survivors.

"Will the minister please give us the cash we need?"

[5 June 2018 14:13 · Kristin Hugo]

  ↵Perhaps unsurprisingly, Boris Johnson is not backing down on his opposition to Heathrow expansion...

[5 June 2018 14:41 · Kristin Hugo]

Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, ahead of this afternoon's debate on abortion in Northern Ireland. 

The DUP is opposing any attempts to lift the country's ban on abortion.

The Labour leader said:

"I would say very politely to Arlene Foster, you were elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, maybe you should play your part in ensuring that Assembly functions and we get a devolved administration working in Northern Ireland.

"In the absence of it, then clearly the UK Parliament has responsibility to adhere to human rights standards, and there is a Supreme Court decision coming on Thursday.

"Labour's position has always been that abortion rights should be extended, without fear or favour, across the whole of the UK."

[5 June 2018 14:50 · Kristin Hugo]

The Commons debate on abortion in Northern Ireland has just started. Labour backbencher Stella Creasy, who is leading it, says women who are raped in Northern Ireland and seek an abortion face a longer prison sentence than their attacker:

"It is now time for us to offer our hands to the women of Northern Ireland - women who face a situation where, if they are raped and seek a termination, they will face a longer prison sentence than their attacker."

She says the mother of a 15-year-old girl who was in an abusive relationship is being prosecuted for helping her daughter to have an abortion.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party co-leader, intervenes to say the UN Committee on Ending Discrimination Against Women have called the situation in Northern Ireland "a grave and systematic violation of human rights". Ms Lucas says Parliament must say to women in Northern Ireland: "We are with you."

[5 June 2018 15:04 · Kristin Hugo]

Stella Creasy says the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act (Oapa) puts abortion in the same category as homicide, intent to murder, child stealing, rape and defilement of women. 

She says the parts of Oapa relating to abortion - sections 58 and 59 - should be repealed, but that this would still not go far enough. 

All it would do, the Walthamstow MP says, is repeal the existing UK legislation that requires Northern Ireland to take a certain stance. Northern Ireland would be free to replace it with whatever it sees fit.

[5 June 2018 15:09 · Kristin Hugo]

The DUP's Ian Paisley said in 2016 the Northern Ireland Assembly rejected the changes Ms Creasy wants to see.

Ms Creasy says: "There have been two assembly elections since then, so there's no guarantee the view of the assembly would be the same as in 2016."