Precious Life condemns Westminster's death threat to Northern Ireland's unborn children
Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life has condemned Westminster MPs for voting today (23 Oct) in support of a ‘10-Minute Rule Bill’ which is seeking to decriminalise abortion in the UK, with the ultimate aim of introducing abortion-on-demand, right up to the moment of birth, in Northern Ireland. The pro-life group said the vote was a direct attack on Northern Ireland’s unborn babies, democracy, and the peace process.
The Bill, brought forward by Labour MP Diana Johnson, was passed with 208 votes in favour, and 123 votes against. The Bill will now proceed to its second stage, when MPs vote on it again on 23rd November. This Bill if passed, would introduce into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, one of the most cruel and extreme abortion regimes in the world.
Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “Pro-abortion MPs in Westminster have no regard for unborn children, but those who voted in favour of this Bill today have also shown utter contempt and disregard for devolution and democracy. Northern Ireland’s legislation on abortion is a devolved matter. It is for locally elected representatives in the Northern Ireland Assembly to legislate on. In 2016, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted against any change in the laws, so this must be acknowledged and respected. Over 97% of MPs in Westminster are not from Northern Ireland so therefore should not be interfering by trying to dictate a change in our laws. Overriding our pro-life laws would leave Northern Ireland with no legal protection for mothers and their unborn children throughout the whole nine months of pregnancy. This move would be disastrous for the health and wellbeing of the women in Northern Ireland and their unborn children.”
She added “An incredible 300,000 people have signed various Precious Life petitions in recent years, calling for our pro-life laws and our unborn children to be protected. 300,000 citizens of Northern Ireland say NO to the barbarity and violence of abortion! This Bill is a death threat to our unborn children. If passed, the Bill would also damage the Good Friday Agreement, which was all about bringing peace through devolution, and respecting the rights of all people in Northern Ireland – and the most fundamental right of all is the right to life itself."
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Northern Ireland’s laws are progressive, modern and compassionate, precisely because they recognise the scientific fact that an unborn baby is a human being. We acknowledge the extensive evidence that abortion hurts women physically, emotionally and psychologically. Precious Life will work to ensure that our pro-life laws are retained in Northern Ireland despite this shocking and outrageous attack today on our unborn children, on democracy, and on devolution.”