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| Abortion and same-sex marriage votes 'breach devolution' - DUP | Abortion and same-sex marriage votes 'breach devolution' - DUP |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Votes by MPs to legalise same-sex marriage and liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland breach the devolution settlement, the Democratic Unionist Party has said. | Votes by MPs to legalise same-sex marriage and liberalise abortion law in Northern Ireland breach the devolution settlement, the Democratic Unionist Party has said. |
| MPs debated the changes on Tuesday. | MPs debated the changes on Tuesday. |
| Same sex-marriage is not legal in Northern Ireland and abortion is only allowed in limited circumstances. | Same sex-marriage is not legal in Northern Ireland and abortion is only allowed in limited circumstances. |
| While the votes do not automatically change the law, they compel government to make the changes if devolution at Stormont is not restored by 21 October. | While the votes do not automatically change the law, they compel government to make the changes if devolution at Stormont is not restored by 21 October. |
| The DUP said the votes make it more difficult to restore its power-sharing government with Sinn Féin that collapsed in January 2017 amid a bitter row. | The DUP said the votes make it more difficult to restore its power-sharing government with Sinn Féin that collapsed in January 2017 amid a bitter row. |
| Tuesday's votes came as part of the debate about a bill aimed at keeping Northern Ireland running in the absence of devolved government. | Tuesday's votes came as part of the debate about a bill aimed at keeping Northern Ireland running in the absence of devolved government. |
| MPs backed the same-sex marriage amendment by 383 votes to 73, while the abortion amendment was backed 332 to 99. | |
| Analysis: Crucial caveat to law change | Analysis: Crucial caveat to law change |
| By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter | By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter |
| Campaigners for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland say this is a watershed moment. | Campaigners for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland say this is a watershed moment. |
| Others may see it as the biggest step yet by Westminster towards enacting direct rule. | Others may see it as the biggest step yet by Westminster towards enacting direct rule. |
| But it does not automatically change the law - the caveat is that it can only happen if Stormont hasn't been restored by 21 October. | But it does not automatically change the law - the caveat is that it can only happen if Stormont hasn't been restored by 21 October. |
| Read more from Jayne here. | Read more from Jayne here. |
| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP's Lagan Valley MP, said the votes meant there was "very little incentive for Sinn Féin to restore devolution". | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP's Lagan Valley MP, said the votes meant there was "very little incentive for Sinn Féin to restore devolution". |
| The socially-conservative DUP has opposed any change to same-sex marriage and abortion law in Northern Ireland, while Sinn Féin has supported reform on both issues. | The socially-conservative DUP has opposed any change to same-sex marriage and abortion law in Northern Ireland, while Sinn Féin has supported reform on both issues. |
| 'Responsibility to legislate' | 'Responsibility to legislate' |
| "It's quite ironic for an Irish republican party to argue that the British Parliament is the proper place to deal with very sensitive legalisation, very sensitive matters," said Sir Jeffrey. | "It's quite ironic for an Irish republican party to argue that the British Parliament is the proper place to deal with very sensitive legalisation, very sensitive matters," said Sir Jeffrey. |
| "[The DUP] believe the purpose of devolution is to allow the different parts of the UK to make laws that are appropriate for that part of the country." | "[The DUP] believe the purpose of devolution is to allow the different parts of the UK to make laws that are appropriate for that part of the country." |
| Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy welcomed the vote result, but added it was not delivered in the way his party would have preferred. | Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy welcomed the vote result, but added it was not delivered in the way his party would have preferred. |
| "The government with jurisdiction has responsibility to deliver rights if the devolved institution is denying those rights," he said. | "The government with jurisdiction has responsibility to deliver rights if the devolved institution is denying those rights," he said. |
| "If the DUP continue to deny rights then Westminster has a responsibility to legislate for these matters. | "If the DUP continue to deny rights then Westminster has a responsibility to legislate for these matters. |
| "It's not our preference but it is in the Good Friday Agreement." | "It's not our preference but it is in the Good Friday Agreement." |
| Grainne Teggart, from the human rights organisation Amnesty International, said Parliament's will was clear and work must start on legislation to "finally respects women's rights". | |
| "At a time when prosecutions are a reality in Northern Ireland, when a mother is facing criminal trial for obtaining abortion pills for her then-15-year-old daughter, this can't come quick enough," she added. | |
| Anti-abortion protester Bernie Smyth said it was a "disgrace" that MPs had decided to "override the democratic process" in Northern Ireland. | |
| "We've been working very hard to protect the unborn child," she said. "To see something change so dramatically is unbelievable." | |
| What happens now? | What happens now? |
| If the Northern Ireland Assembly has not been restored by 21 October, the government must bring regulations to Parliament to amend the law in Northern Ireland. | If the Northern Ireland Assembly has not been restored by 21 October, the government must bring regulations to Parliament to amend the law in Northern Ireland. |
| There would not have to be a further vote on the matter as it would come in the form of secondary legislation that would not be put to a vote in the Commons. | There would not have to be a further vote on the matter as it would come in the form of secondary legislation that would not be put to a vote in the Commons. |
| The bill still has to go to the House of Lords for approval but it is highly unlikely it would be overturned there. | The bill still has to go to the House of Lords for approval but it is highly unlikely it would be overturned there. |
| Number 10's former legislative affairs director Nikki Da Costa said MPs could ask for a resolution to overturn it but given the majority in favour of the amendment that seemed unlikely to happen too. | Number 10's former legislative affairs director Nikki Da Costa said MPs could ask for a resolution to overturn it but given the majority in favour of the amendment that seemed unlikely to happen too. |
| The DUP voted against both amendments but two of its MPs - Sir Jeffrey and Gavin Robinson - were tellers, meaning they did not vote. | The DUP voted against both amendments but two of its MPs - Sir Jeffrey and Gavin Robinson - were tellers, meaning they did not vote. |
| The independent unionist Lady Hermon, who represents the North Down constituency, backed the same-sex marriage amendment, as did Northern Ireland Office Minister John Penrose. | The independent unionist Lady Hermon, who represents the North Down constituency, backed the same-sex marriage amendment, as did Northern Ireland Office Minister John Penrose. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Prime Minister Theresa May abstained. | Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Prime Minister Theresa May abstained. |
| Timeline of same-sex marriage | Timeline of same-sex marriage |