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 15:15 · Kristin Hugo]

Stella Creasy continues: "By repealing Oapa, we as the UK Parliament can show women across the UK we trust them with their own healthcare wherever they live. We also can show that we trust every legislature, including Northern Ireland, to create modern abortion laws."

She says the crucial issue is when this came be done. The government is currently consulting on the Domestic Violence Bill, which she says is an "opportunity to make progress". 

She adds: "We don't protect women by criminalising them."

[5 June 2018 15:24 · Kristin Hugo]

Stella Creasy is nearing the end of her speech. She says: "Men and women will never truly be free whilst one cannot control what happens to their own bodies...It is fundamental to human rights."

She says those campaigning for reform of the law are "putting the safety and dignity" of women first. 

Wrapping up, she adds:

"It is about freedom. Shout at me all you want: this is not Gilead and we should not be frightened to speak up for the equal rights of women. Because not to do so is to put women's life and liberation at risk. The truth is that in 2018 we still don't trust our own women."

[5 June 2018 15:28 · Kristin Hugo]

Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, is responding to Ms Creasy on behalf of the government.

She confirms  Conservative MPs will continue to be given a free vote on any votes on abortion, as has happened in the past:

"It has long been the case that the issue of abortion has been a matter of conscience in this House - a matter that has been and which will continue to be subject to a free vote."

[5 June 2018 15:35 · Kristin Hugo]

Karen Bradley says there are "very significant differences" between the situation in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic required a referendum in order to amend its written constitution, she says, whereas Northern Ireland would not need to hold such a vote.

The Irish referendum was simply to enable a change in law - the Irish Parliament still has to determine what that law should look like, she adds.

[5 June 2018 15:39 · Kristin Hugo]

Karen Bradley says there is "no consensus" on what the law in Northern Ireland should look like, "even among those who want to see change".

Repeating the argument that Downing Street has been making for weeks, she says: 

"Abortion has always been a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, since Northern Ireland was created in 1921, and it would not be appropriate for Westminster to seek to impose its will or be the arbiter of this issue, that has long been devolved to the people of Northern Ireland."

She says the government believes the matter "must be debated by the people of Northern Ireland and their locally elected, and therefore accountable, politicians".

She adds:

"Personally I want to see reform in Northern Ireland, but it is a matter for the people of Northern Ireland."

[5 June 2018 15:42 · Kristin Hugo]

Paving the way for a full Commons vote on the Northern Ireland abortion ban, Karen Bradley says:

"This is a matter of conscience. A free vote on this issue in this house will be afforded if the matter of abortion comes before the house again."

Stella Creasy has promised to table an amendment to the Domestic Violence Bill, which means MPs could be given a full vote on the issue later this year.

[5 June 2018 15:46 · Kristin Hugo]

Karen Bradley wraps up her speech by saying Theresa May "has been clear in her support for women's rights and respect of access to safe abortions, and she welcomed the referendum result in the Republic of Ireland".

However, she adds: 

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

[5 June 2018 16:00 · Kristin Hugo]

Tony Lloyd, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, says Labour would "seek to provide, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Assembly, the legislative framework that allows for safe, legal abortion for those women in Northern Ireland who made that choice."

The changes Ms Creasy is seeking would not contradict this, because it would still allow the Stormont assembly to determine the law in Northern Ireland, he adds.

[5 June 2018 16:29 · Kristin Hugo]

Speaking in the Commons, senior Tory MPs have backed lifting the Northern Ireland abortion ban. Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health committee and a former GP, says:

 

"It cannot be acceptable that in just six counties of our United Kingdom, women are forced to make long, lonely journeys across the water or be forced into the hands of the unscrupulous. I do believe it is time for this House to act to protect their rights."

She adds: "The time is absolutely right for us to move from a situation where women are criminalised to one where women are treated with respect and dignity."

Justine Greening, the former education secretary, says there is a "clear anomaly" between the rights of women in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which she says is "unsustainable". 

Anna Soubry, the former business minister, goes further. She says to Northern Ireland:

"It's 2018 and I would gently say: your laws are cruel, repressive, they do nothing for the advancement of women or families, and they have to change."

[5 June 2018 16:51 · Kristin Hugo]

Conservative Heidi Allen became emotional as she told the Commons she had had an abortion.

The South Cambridgeshire MP 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."

DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland today because the Abortion Act 1967 was not accepted.

"I am proud of that pro-life position, 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 said the law in Northern Ireland had been shown to reduce the number of abortions in the jurisdiction, and said: "For that reason I am very thoughtful about any change in the law in Northern Ireland."

Sir Jeffrey 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."