NI parties oppose abortion proposal

All four of Northern Ireland’s main political parties say they will vigorously oppose any attempt to make abortion legal in the Province.

Six MPs, none of whom are from Northern Ireland, have signed an amendment seeking to change the law so that the 1967 Abortion Act would apply in the Province.

One of them, Labour MP Diane Abbott, said: “We think we have got a very good chance of getting the amendment through.

“There is a very clear majority in Parliament for a woman’s right to choose and we believe there is a majority to extend that to Northern Ireland.”

But MPs from the DUP, UUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein have all voiced their opposition to the move.

DUP MP David Simpson pointed out the shocking number of abortions that take place among teenage girls in Great Britain each year.

He said: “Every MP in the House of Commons knows full well that if it were up to local politicians and local people this would not take place.

“I and my party will fight such an attempt all the way through the House if necessary.”