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Abortion Plans for Northern Ireland Abandoned Due to United Opposition : 16th Oct 08
United Opposition of People of Northern Ireland Against Abortion Wins the Day! Decision Not to Legalise Abortion in Northern Ireland Welcomed
Attempts to extend British abortion law to Northern Ireland have been shelved after politicians from the province threatened to break off communication with the UK government over the matter. An amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill extending British law to Northern Ireland remains on the parliamentary website.
Pro-Abortion Labour MPs had been preparing to table an amendment to the Embryology Bill that would allow terminations in Northern Ireland, the only part of Britain where the procedure remains illegal.
They have scrapped the move after being privately warned by ministers that with the Stormont executive close to collapse, it could tip the province's politicians into withdrawing from negotiations.
The MPs still plan to push ahead with separate plans to make access to abortion easier in the rest of the country by removing the requirement for two doctors' signatures and allowing nurses to carry out early-stage terminations, however.
But they faced determined opposition from pro-life MPs, backed by church groups, when the Bill was debated in the Commons on Wednesday, October 22nd.
Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, said the decision not to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland was a "welcome U-turn" but added: "The decision appears to be more about extending the political life of the Prime Minister - rather than the Government extending the lives of the unborn.
"It appears ministers are still determined to introduce 'drive-thru' abortions where mothers can bypass the advice of their local GP, drive straight to their local clinic and place an order for an abortion." Daily Telegraph. October 15.
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