MPs defy call for abortion limit cut

May 21 2008 by Rob Merrick, Liverpool Daily Post

BRITAIN’S MPs last night threw out the first attempts for nearly 20 years to cut the 24-week time limit for abortions, after a stormy debate and a series of dramatic votes.

Despite fierce lobbying by Church leaders, they rejected an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to cut the limit to 22 weeks by 304 votes to 233, a majority of 71. Loud cheers greeted the result.

Minutes earlier, MPs also voted down proposed limits of 20 weeks (by 332 votes to 190), of 16 weeks (by 387 votes to 84) and of 12 weeks (by 393 votes to 71). All parties had granted a free vote on what is traditionally seen as a "conscience" issue, in the first Parliamentary showdown on abortion since the time limit was cut from 28 weeks back in 1990.

It followed an impassioned demonstration outside the Commons by anti-abortionists and a bombarding of MPs by groups on both sides of the argument.

Among the region's MPs back- ing a 22-week limit were Joe Benton (Lab; Bootle), Claire Curtis-Thomas (Lab; Crosby), Frank Field (Lab; Birkenhead), Helen Jones (Lab; Warrington North), Peter Kilfoyle (Lab; Liverpool Walton) and John Pugh (Lib Dem; Southport)

But Angela Eagle (Lab; Walla- sey), Maria Eagle (Lab; Liverpool Garston), Louise Ellman (Lab; Liverpool Riverside), George Howarth (Lab; Knowsley North and Sefton East), Jane Kennedy (Lab; Liverpool Wavertree) and Eddie O'Hara (Lab; Knowsley South) all backed the status quo.

Campaigners for a reduction in the time limit warned that Britain was in danger of becoming the "abortion capital of the world", with 201,000 terminations in 2006.

And, last night, MPs argued dramatic pictures of thumb- sucking foetuses appearing to "walk" in the womb had swung public opinion against late abortions.

Ms Curtis-Thomas led the attempt to secure a 12-week time limit, which its supporters claimed would bring Britain into line with most of Europe.

Insisting many women were left mentally ill after going ahead with an abortion, Ms Curtis- Thomas said: "Echoes of that will live with them for ever. Some will come to bitterly regret their decision.

"I cannot accept that we keep the limit where it stands when there is a possibility of life, viable life, being taken. The vast major- ity of people are deeply uncomfor- table with that prospect. Our job is to protect the vulnerable, not to expedite them at the convenience of parents. For me, they have a right to life." Meanwhile, Southport Lib-Dem MP John Pugh condemned a "disgraceful" British Pregnancy Advice Service leaflet warning of "overstretched" special care baby units, insisting the decision should not depend on "current funding arrangements in the NHS".

The Liberal Democrat MP said: "The moral reality is that, if you abort a baby at 22 weeks you may be – and you cannot know you are not – aborting a baby, or a foetus, that is viable. That should give us pause to reflect."

Nadine Dorries, the Liverpool- born former nurse who campaigned for a 20-week limit, described her experience of a "botched" abortion, which left a "little boy gasping through mucus and amniotic fluid" for seven minutes before he died.

The Tory MP said: "I thought what we committed that day was murder.

“I can't think of another word for doctors and nurses not resuscitating what became a live birth."

However, supporters of the 24- week limit insisted a cut to 20 weeks would have little effect on the abortion total, because fewer than 3,000 take place after that point. Around 90% are in the first 13 weeks.

Furthermore, medical bodies – including the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Obstetricians – all backed keeping the 24-week limit.

Many MPs appeared to be swayed by a recent study at 16 hospitals, which found that prospects for babies born before 24 weeks are still desperately poor and unlikely to improve – despite medical advances.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "While there have been medical advances in caring for premature babies, only a small number born after 24 weeks gestation can survive."

And, warning of a return to backstreet abortions if the law denied them, the minister added: "Wouldn't it be appalling if we drove women back to where they were before the 1967 Act."

Gordon Brown had pledged to vote to maintain the current limit. He described it as a "very difficult matter", but said the medical evidence had not changed.

But Conservative leader David Cameron said he would vote to lower the limit to 22 weeks and had previously backed a cut to 20 weeks.

Earlier, MPs voted down two amendments that would have required a "father or a male role model" before fertility treatment is provided.

The Bill says there need only be evidence of "supportive parenting", amid fears that the current legislation discriminates against single women and lesbian couples.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, who was born in Liverpool but moved to Newton-le-Willows as a youngster, scrapped a visit to the Cannes film festival to back the "need for a father" amendment.

The vote meant the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill survived intact, after Monday night's votes in favour of animal- human hybrid embryos for stem cell research and to allow so- called “saviour siblings”.

Charity backs decision

A HEALTHCARE charity last night welcomed the decision by MPs to keep the 24 week limit for abortions.

Marie Stopes International, which provides sexual and reproductive healthcare services, said it was reassuring that a majority of MPs were wise to the emotive and misleading campaign that sought to chip away at women’s reproductive rights, and disregarded it in exercising their votes.

They claim the case for reducing the time limit on abortion derived from a minority religious lobby, and had been deceptively based upon both the notion of “too many abortions” in the UK and the issue of foetal viability.

The number of women who have abortions between 20 and 24 weeks amounts to less than 2% of the total, meaning a reduction in the time limit would have had a negligible effect upon numbers.

The medical establishment has remained united in refuting the notion that foetuses were now “more viable” below 24 weeks.

Anne Quesney, Marie Stopes International’s Head of Advocacy, said: “Having secured this victory for common sense, compassion towards women’s needs and sound medical science, it’s now time to look forward to the next stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

“We expect to see progressive amendments introduced that will improve current legislation, not least the removal of the archaic requirement for two doctors to give permission before any abortion may be performed.”