MPs from all major parties will debate an amendment to the Queen’s speech requesting that the UK Government considers passing legislation to allow women normally resident in Northern Ireland to have access to free abortion services within England. Humanists UK, which has organised a petition of the Prime Minister on the matter, welcomes the tabling of this amendment, which it is hoped will spur the Government into taking action to remove discriminatory charges of up to £2,000 currently imposed upon Northern Ireland women travelling to England to safely and legally terminate a pregnancy.
This amendment has been backed by MPs from all sides of the House of Commons. In addition to being coordinated by Labour’s Stella Creasy and the Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, the amendment has been signed by Green Party Co-leader Caroline Lucas, Scottish National Party MP Alison Thewliss and 20 Labour members. However, the issue of abortion services for Northern Ireland women is likely to be a contentious issue for the Government as it tries to negotiate a power deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, which has traditionally opposed any weakening of restrictions on abortion.
This amendment comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last week which found that the decision to remove charges within NHS England on Northern Ireland women for abortion procedures was a political one, ultimately residing with the Secretary of State for Health. The judgement was split over whether such charges were lawful, with two of the five judges concluding they could not be justified on the grounds that they constituted discriminatory treatment. Humanists UK intervened in the case.
Northern Ireland has some of the most restrictive laws governing abortion in Europe. The 1967 Abortion Act, which applies in Britain, was never extended to Northern Ireland, where abortion in all bar the most extreme cases remains a criminal offense carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Abortion is not permitted in cases where the pregnancy has resulted from a sexual crime – such as rape or incest – or if there has been diagnosed with Fatal Foetal Abnormality.
Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘We are pleased that this tabled amendment has gained such wide cross-party support in the House of Commons. It is within the power of the Government to abolish NHS abortion charges. Since this judgment has passed we have already had confirmation that the Scottish Government is exploring ways in which to remove these charges from NHS Scotland services and we understand that there is support for a similar policy in Wales. We hope that this amendment passes and begins this process in England.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson on richy@humanists.uk or 020 3675 0959, or Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator on boyd.sleator@nihumanists.org or on 07470 395090.
Sign our petition calling on Theresa May, Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones to allow Northern Irish women free access to NHS abortions: https://humanists.uk/what-you-can-do-to-help/help-northern-irish-women-access-free-abortions-in-great-britain/
Read more about the case including the judgment on the Supreme Court’s website: https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2015-0220.html
Read Humanists UK’s story on the outcome of the case: https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2015-0220.html
Read more about Humanists UK’s campaigns work on abortion: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/
At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.
Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association: https://humanists.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/