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Abortion referendum should be held in NI - Tory MP Theresa May facing calls for abortion reform in NI
(35 minutes later)
An abortion referendum should be held in Northern Ireland, a senior Conservative MP has said. A number of senior Conservative MPs have called for NI's abortion law to be reformed after a historic referendum in the Republic of Ireland.
Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of Westminster's health committee, is one of a number of female Conservatives calling for change. Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of Westminster's health committee, said women in Northern Ireland should have the same rights as other UK residents.
Prime Minister Theresa May is facing pressure to reform the law after the Republic of Ireland voted to end its ban in Friday's referendum.
Northern Ireland's abortion law is more restrictive than the rest of the UK.Northern Ireland's abortion law is more restrictive than the rest of the UK.
Downing Street is understood to believe that any reform "is an issue for Northern Ireland".Downing Street is understood to believe that any reform "is an issue for Northern Ireland".
"It shows one of the important reasons we need a functioning executive back up and running," a source said. Prime Minister Theresa May is facing pressure to act after Ireland voted to end its abortion ban in Friday's referendum.
But a Downing Street source said it showed "one of the important reasons we need a functioning executive back up and running".
Northern Ireland's devolved government collapsed almost 18 months ago.
Mrs May tweeted on Sunday: "The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign." - PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th"Mrs May tweeted on Sunday: "The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign." - PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th"
Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which an abortion can be performed legally.Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which an abortion can be performed legally.
A fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis means doctors believe an unborn child has a terminal condition and will die in the womb or shortly after birth.A fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis means doctors believe an unborn child has a terminal condition and will die in the womb or shortly after birth.
However, anti-abortion campaigners argue that doctors cannot accurately predict death, saying that terminally-ill babies "can and do defy the odds".However, anti-abortion campaigners argue that doctors cannot accurately predict death, saying that terminally-ill babies "can and do defy the odds".
There is no restriction on travelling outside Northern Ireland to seek a legal termination in another jurisdiction.There is no restriction on travelling outside Northern Ireland to seek a legal termination in another jurisdiction.
Last year, the Westminster government introduced measures to help women from Northern Ireland access free NHS abortions in England.Last year, the Westminster government introduced measures to help women from Northern Ireland access free NHS abortions in England.
Speaking on the BBC's Pienaar's Politics programme, Dr Wollaston said there was "a clear case to extent the same rights to women in Northern Ireland as we have here in the rest of the United Kingdom". Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics programme, Dr Wollaston said she would vote to support an extension of abortion rights to all women across the UK.
She called for the Northern Ireland Assembly to bring forward legislation and said that "we should at the very least allow women in Northern Ireland the opportunity for Northern Ireland to have a referendum on this". "As this is a devolved issue, if an amendment is not accepted by the Speaker, then there should at very least be a referendum in Northern Ireland on this issue."
However, the assembly has not been carrying out its legislative role for almost 18 months after Stormont's power-sharing government collapsed in January 2017. The Women and Equalities minister Penny Mordaunt, and her predecessors Amber Rudd, Justine Greening, Nicky Morgan and Maria Miller, have also called for reform of Northern Ireland's abortion laws.
The administration of public services is now being carried out by civil servants. But Justice Minister Rory Stewart warned against the Commons intervening on the issue.
He told BBC's Sunday Politics, the UK Government was acting as a "caretaker" administration in the absence of Stormont, and "that must not be used to make fundamental constitutional, ethical changes on behalf of the people in Northern Ireland".