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Abortion law: NI politicians return to Stormont Abortion: NI politicians' bid to halt law changes fails
(about 1 hour later)
NI's Stormont Assembly has sat for the first time in nearly three years after being recalled in a last-ditch attempt to stop abortion law changes. A last ditch attempt at the Stormont assembly to stop abortion law changes in Northern Ireland has failed, with the law set to change at midnight.
Unionist parties, who oppose the upcoming liberalisation, triggered the recall with a petition. Unionist parties, who oppose the upcoming liberalisation, triggered the assembly's recall with a petition.
Proceedings were delayed, amid reports of legal moves to block the changes. But politicians were told the assembly could not do any business until a speaker was elected with cross-community backing.
The politicians who returned were told the assembly "cannot do any business" until a speaker is elected with cross-community backing. That became impossible when the nationalist SDLP left the chamber.
Shortly after proceedings began, the SDLP walked out, leaving no nationalist representatives in the chamber, which meant no speaker could be elected. As a result no nationalist representatives remained, meaning no new speaker could be elected and the sitting was suspended after less than an hour.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) also walked out, saying this was not the end of the matter. Some unionist assembly members had been attempting to introduce the Defence of the Unborn Child Bill 2019, which they hoped to pass by midnight.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "shameful day" and Northern Ireland would have the most "liberal abortion laws anywhere in Europe". But the incumbent speaker, Robin Newton - who was elected as a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA - resisted attempts led by his party leader Arlene Foster to persuade him to suspend assembly rules to allow the bill to be introduced.
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since January 2017 when the power-sharing parties split. In July, MPs at Westminster passed legislation which requires the government to liberalise abortion and extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland if devolution is not restored by 21 October.
Abortion laws will change at midnight unless devolution is restored, but the recall is seen as largely symbolic. Monday's sitting was the first time the assembly had sat for nearly three years.
Without an executive in place, Stormont cannot affect the laws. The DUP also walked out, saying this was not the end of the matter.
Mrs Foster said it was a "shameful day" which would leave Northern Ireland with Europe's most liberal abortion laws.
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since January 2017 when the power-sharing parties - the DUP and Sinn Féin - split after a bitter row.
Without an executive in place, Stormont cannot affect the abortion laws.
It is unlikely an executive will be established as it needs support from both the unionist and nationalist communities.It is unlikely an executive will be established as it needs support from both the unionist and nationalist communities.
Why have politicians been recalled? Why were politicians recalled?
Stormont's power-sharing government collapsed amid a bitter row between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. Several rounds of talks to restore the executive since its collapse have not succeeded.
Several rounds of talks to restore the executive have not succeeded.
MPs in the House of Commons have since passed some key legislation for Northern Ireland.MPs in the House of Commons have since passed some key legislation for Northern Ireland.
Speaker Robin Newton said the assembly must as its first business elect a speaker with cross-community support, and could not suspend standing orders first to consider the Defence of the Unborn Child bill proposed by MLAs. Speaker Robin Newton said the assembly had to elect a speaker with cross-community support as its first business, and could not suspend assembly rules - known as standing orders - first to consider the Defence of the Unborn Child bill.
However, the DUP's Paul Givan said: "The legal opinion of the attorney general is crystal clear... that it is permissible to suspend standing orders to proceed with business."However, the DUP's Paul Givan said: "The legal opinion of the attorney general is crystal clear... that it is permissible to suspend standing orders to proceed with business."
In July, MPs voted for legislation which requires the government to liberalise abortion and extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland if devolution is not restored by 21 October.
The bid to recall the assembly was proposed by Northern Ireland peer Baroness O'Loan, who opposes any reform of the existing abortion law.The bid to recall the assembly was proposed by Northern Ireland peer Baroness O'Loan, who opposes any reform of the existing abortion law.
The petition was signed by 27 DUP assembly members, Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann and his party colleagues Robbie Butler and Roy Beggs, as well as Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister.The petition was signed by 27 DUP assembly members, Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann and his party colleagues Robbie Butler and Roy Beggs, as well as Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister.

Analysis: Stormont's divisions exposed
By Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI Political Correspondent
It was a high stakes move ultimately doomed to failure.
But the last ditch attempt by the DUP and others to stave off changes to Northern Ireland's abortion laws exposed the divisions which have prevented Stormont from operating for almost three years.
With lightning haste they attempted to introduce something called the Defence of the Unborn Child Bill 2019 which they hoped to force through by midnight.
But the speaker stubbornly resisted attempts to persuade him to suspend standing orders to allow it to happen.
It all means that the law governing this most emotive of areas will, as we expected, change at midnight.
But what the events of the day have done for the already battered image of the assembly - and attempts to restore it as a legislative body - we can only guess.
What are the current rules on abortion in NI?What are the current rules on abortion in NI?
Northern Ireland's abortion legislation is very different from the law in Great Britain.Northern Ireland's abortion legislation is very different from the law in Great Britain.
The 1967 Abortion Act, which liberalised the rules in England, Scotland and Wales, was never extended to Northern Ireland.The 1967 Abortion Act, which liberalised the rules in England, Scotland and Wales, was never extended to Northern Ireland.
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 or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality - where medics believe that a baby will die before, during or shortly after birth - are not grounds for a legal abortion in Northern Ireland.Rape, incest or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality - where medics believe that a baby will die before, during or shortly after birth - are not grounds for a legal abortion in Northern Ireland.
What could happen at midnight? What will happen at midnight?
Abortion will be decriminalised if the devolved government is not restored.Abortion will be decriminalised if the devolved government is not restored.
The legislation brought in by MPs at Westminster means the UK government will assume responsibility for introducing new regulations to provide greater access to terminations by next April.The legislation brought in by MPs at Westminster means the UK government will assume responsibility for introducing new regulations to provide greater access to terminations by next April.
Under the act, same sex marriage will become legal in Northern Ireland in January, with the first wedding expected the following month.Under the act, same sex marriage will become legal in Northern Ireland in January, with the first wedding expected the following month.
What positions are the NI parties taking?What positions are the NI parties taking?
Sinn Féin said the recall was merely "about playing to the gallery" and its MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) would not go. Speaking on Monday afternoon, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the "decriminalisation of women that will take effect from midnight".
The SDLP did not sign the petition either but it has a number of MLAs who are opposed to abortion and are understood to be considering attending the recall sitting in spite of party leader Colum Eastwood branding the move a "stunt". She said: "The circus and the farce today in the assembly chamber demonstrates very clearly that what we don't need is political games, we need serious politics."
The SDLP has described itself as a "pro-life party" but its politicians are free to vote with their conscience on abortion laws. The SDLP has described itself as a "pro-life party" but its politicians are free to vote with their conscience on abortion laws.
The DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said his party wanted to return to Stormont to "take decisions on issues that matter to the people of Northern Ireland". After leading his assembly members out of the chamber on Monday, party leader Colum Eastwood said: "The DUP are not serious about getting Stormont back to work.
The Ulster Unionist Party said its 10 MLAs would go to the chamber and it has also proposed a second petition to recall the assembly on Tuesday. "These institutions are in grave danger. There cannot be a unionist talking shop."
The UUP's Doug Beattie said his party's petition was for MLAs to express anger about the collapse of devolution more than 1,000 days ago. DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said his party wanted to return to Stormont to "take decisions on issues that matter to the people of Northern Ireland".
The Ulster Unionist Party's 10 assembly members attended the sitting and the party also proposed a second petition to recall the assembly on Tuesday, but it has since withdrawn its signatures from this petition.
The UUP's Doug Beattie said his party's petition was for assembly members to express anger about the collapse of devolution more than 1,000 days ago.
He denied the UUP was engaging in "stunt politics" of its own and said something needed to be done given the absence of formal talks to restore power-sharing at Stormont.He denied the UUP was engaging in "stunt politics" of its own and said something needed to be done given the absence of formal talks to restore power-sharing at Stormont.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said none of her party's MLAs would be attending and she described the recall as a "cynical political stunt". Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said none of her party's assembly members would be attending and she described the recall as a "cynical political stunt".
"The intention of this recall is not to block abortion law and equal marriage but to create the illusion the DUP are trying to do so," she added."The intention of this recall is not to block abortion law and equal marriage but to create the illusion the DUP are trying to do so," she added.
The Green Party leader Clare Bailey said it was a "shameful pantomime" and that she would not enter the chamber. Green Party leader Clare Bailey said it was a "shameful pantomime" and that she would not enter the chamber.