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Rebel Tories could back Northern Ireland abortion amendment Government to give Northern Irish women access to free abortions
(about 2 hours later)
MPs will vote on Thursday on whether to give Northern Irish women access to terminations on the NHS in Great Britain, in an opposition amendment that could be backed by rebel Conservative MPs and therefore succeed. Justine Greening is to announce a major concession to give Northern Irish women access to terminations on the NHS in Great Britain, in an attempt to head off a damaging Tory rebellion at a vote on the Queen’s speech.
About a dozen Conservative MPs are understood to have expressed concerns about the issue. Women from Northern Ireland are charged around £900 for terminations if they travel to have the procedure in Britain, a policy upheld by a supreme court case earlier this month. Northern Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. Dozens of Conservative MPs are understood to have expressed to Tory whips their support for an amendment by the Labour MP Stella Creasy which says that Northern Irish women would be able to have access to NHS funded abortions in Great Britain. It is due to be voted on this afternoon.
Philip Hammond told the Commons that the government will fund abortions for women coming to have them in England from Northern Ireland. The details of that funding – and whether it will be distributed via the NHS or a third party abortion provide – are not yet clear.
Women from Northern Ireland are charged around £900 for terminations if they travel to have the procedure in mainland Britain, a policy upheld by a supreme court case earlier this month. Northern Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe and it is almost impossible for a women to have an abortion legally there.
Greening, the education secretary and equalities minister, is understood to be preparing a letter to MPs outlining new funding which the government hopes will quell the rebellion.
On Thursday morning, t he leader of the house, Andrea Leadsom, signalled a concession was imminent, telling MPs the Department of Health and the government’s equalities office were discussing the issue.
The amendment to the Queen’s speech, which would force a change in the law if carried, was selected by the Speaker to be put to a vote on Thursday afternoon.The amendment to the Queen’s speech, which would force a change in the law if carried, was selected by the Speaker to be put to a vote on Thursday afternoon.
The vote comes as three appeal court judges in Belfast have refused to change the law in Northern Ireland to allow for abortion in cases where a woman is pregnant through rape or where the pregnancy is doomed due to fatal foetal abnormality.The vote comes as three appeal court judges in Belfast have refused to change the law in Northern Ireland to allow for abortion in cases where a woman is pregnant through rape or where the pregnancy is doomed due to fatal foetal abnormality.
The court said abortion reform should be left to Stormont’s assembly as it ruled that the law was compatible with existing provision.The court said abortion reform should be left to Stormont’s assembly as it ruled that the law was compatible with existing provision.
It said the complex moral and religious questions behind the issue should be determined by a legislature rather than a court.It said the complex moral and religious questions behind the issue should be determined by a legislature rather than a court.
The judgment overturns a previous one by Mr Justice Horner who ruled 18 months ago that the ban on abortion in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality was incompatible with the European convention on human rights.The judgment overturns a previous one by Mr Justice Horner who ruled 18 months ago that the ban on abortion in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality was incompatible with the European convention on human rights.
In the strongest signal yet that the government is concerned the opposition amendment could succeed, the leader of the house, Andrea Leadsom, said the Department of Health and the government’s equalities office were discussing the issue.
Leadsom’s comments came after the former Conservative equalities minister Maria Miller expressed her concern in the Commons. “It’s wrong that women in Northern Ireland don’t have the same access to abortion as women in England, Wales and Scotland,” Miller said. “When will the government be making a statement to show how this wrong will be put right?”Leadsom’s comments came after the former Conservative equalities minister Maria Miller expressed her concern in the Commons. “It’s wrong that women in Northern Ireland don’t have the same access to abortion as women in England, Wales and Scotland,” Miller said. “When will the government be making a statement to show how this wrong will be put right?”
Leadsom said she was pro-choice, calling the abortion funding “an incredibly sensitive and important” issue. “To be very clear it is my personal view that every woman should have the right to decide what happens to her own body. That is very clear,” she said.Leadsom said she was pro-choice, calling the abortion funding “an incredibly sensitive and important” issue. “To be very clear it is my personal view that every woman should have the right to decide what happens to her own body. That is very clear,” she said.
It is understood Labour whips will not instruct the party’s MPs to vote in favour of the amendment, but will allow a free vote because abortion is considered a conscience issue.It is understood Labour whips will not instruct the party’s MPs to vote in favour of the amendment, but will allow a free vote because abortion is considered a conscience issue.
Coordinated by Stella Creasy, the amendment has been signed by more than 100 MPs across the House of Commons, including the Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, Liberal Democrats, SNP MPs and the Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas. Coordinated by Creasy, the amendment has been signed by more than 100 MPs across the House of Commons, including the Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, Liberal Democrats, SNP MPs and the Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas.
“Parliament has an opportunity today to turn concern about inequality into real action for change. For too long our Northern Irish women have been denied a basic right,” Creasy said. “Members across the house have told me they agree this is wrong. Today is our time to end this injustice.”“Parliament has an opportunity today to turn concern about inequality into real action for change. For too long our Northern Irish women have been denied a basic right,” Creasy said. “Members across the house have told me they agree this is wrong. Today is our time to end this injustice.”
Conservative MPs who have sympathy with the amendment and the cause will be faced with a dilemma, as many will be unwilling to vote for an opposition Queen’s speech amendment which would signal no confidence in the government. Conservative MPs who sympathised with the amendment faced a dilemma, as many would have been unwilling to vote for an opposition Queen’s speech amendment which would signal no confidence in the government.
In the Queen’s speech debate on Wednesday, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said there was a consultation about the change – which MPs later said they had not been informed about. “I agree that all women, in all parts of the United Kingdom, should have the same rights to access healthcare,” he said.In the Queen’s speech debate on Wednesday, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said there was a consultation about the change – which MPs later said they had not been informed about. “I agree that all women, in all parts of the United Kingdom, should have the same rights to access healthcare,” he said.
“I note that a consultation on this matter is about to happen. The most important thing is that the voices of the women of Northern Ireland are listened to in that consultation.”“I note that a consultation on this matter is about to happen. The most important thing is that the voices of the women of Northern Ireland are listened to in that consultation.”
However, the Department of Health has since said it is still trying to clarify exactly what consultation Hunt was referring too.However, the Department of Health has since said it is still trying to clarify exactly what consultation Hunt was referring too.
MPs from across the house have raised concerns that the government may have a tacit understanding with the DUP not to change the law in England because of the Conservatives’ supply and confidence agreement with the Northern Irish party. MPs from across the house raised concerns that the government might have a tacit understanding with the DUP not to change the law in England because of the Conservatives’ supply and confidence agreement with the Northern Irish party.
But the Guardian understands DUP MPs are unhappy at this suggestion and have not appreciated being subtly painted as an obstacle to the policy change. But the Guardian understands DUP MPs were unhappy at this suggestion and did not appreciate being subtly painted as an obstacle to the policy change.
In a pointed intervention on Wednesday during the Queen’s speech debate, the DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said: “I think it is important the house recognises this is not a matter for Belfast. This is a matter for NHS England.”In a pointed intervention on Wednesday during the Queen’s speech debate, the DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said: “I think it is important the house recognises this is not a matter for Belfast. This is a matter for NHS England.”
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, signalled on Thursday she was sympathetic to the calls for change, in response to a question from the Tory MP Anna Soubry, who said there was “much concern on both sides of the house about the situation pertaining to women who live in Northern Ireland who seek terminations”.The home secretary, Amber Rudd, signalled on Thursday she was sympathetic to the calls for change, in response to a question from the Tory MP Anna Soubry, who said there was “much concern on both sides of the house about the situation pertaining to women who live in Northern Ireland who seek terminations”.
Rudd said Soubry was “absolutely right … We are absolutely committed to healthcare for women, and that includes access to terminations.”Rudd said Soubry was “absolutely right … We are absolutely committed to healthcare for women, and that includes access to terminations.”
Three Tory MPs have also signed a letter to Hunt calling on him to end the charges. They are the former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, Dan Poulter and Bottomley.Three Tory MPs have also signed a letter to Hunt calling on him to end the charges. They are the former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, Dan Poulter and Bottomley.
Hunt has historically favoured tighter restrictions on abortions, previously suggesting the legal time limit be halved from 24 to 12 weeks. The letter to Hunt is also signed by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as well as the Fawcett Society and Amnesty International.Hunt has historically favoured tighter restrictions on abortions, previously suggesting the legal time limit be halved from 24 to 12 weeks. The letter to Hunt is also signed by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as well as the Fawcett Society and Amnesty International.
At least three other Tory MPs are known to have made private representations to Hunt or Conservative whips on the issue. One Conservative MP, who has not publicly voiced their concerns, told the Guardian: “None of us are going to vote for amendments to the Queen’s speech for very obvious reasons, but quite a lot are saying to the whips this is weird, it’s silly, it’s not something we should get into a fight over.”At least three other Tory MPs are known to have made private representations to Hunt or Conservative whips on the issue. One Conservative MP, who has not publicly voiced their concerns, told the Guardian: “None of us are going to vote for amendments to the Queen’s speech for very obvious reasons, but quite a lot are saying to the whips this is weird, it’s silly, it’s not something we should get into a fight over.”