10th February 2012

Belfast

A group of pro-abortion MPs in Westminster want to change the law and legalise abortion in Northern Ireland. They will use the “Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill” to push through the changes. 

Diane Abbott (Labour); Jacqui Lait (Conservative); Evan Harris (Lib Dem); Katy Clark (Labour); John Bercow (Conservative); and John McDonnell (Labour) tabled the amendment to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. 

Extending the Abortion Act is against the wishes of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. In October 2007 a motion against abortion was passed that sent out a clear message to the Parliament at Westminster that the Northern Ireland Assembly opposes any attempt to liberalise the law on abortion. Over 120,000 petitions against abortion were also presented to the Assembly. In May 2008, the leaders of the four main political parties united to co-sign a letter to all Westminster MPs stating their opposition to plans to extend the 1967 Abortion Act. The following week, the leaders of Northern Ireland's four main churches also wrote to all MPs, in support of local political leaders, in asserting that the law on abortion for Northern Ireland should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

The MPs in Westminster must respect the pro-life ethos in Northern Ireland. They must not over-ride the democratic process by attempting to impose abortion on Northern Ireland. They must acknowledge the clear pro-life message sent out from our politicians, our churches, and our people. 

TAKE ACTION — sign a petition postcard asking the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and Minister of State to ensure abortion will not be imposed on Northern Ireland from Westminster.