BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field is poised to win his controversial bid to tighten up abortion rules – without a vote in Parliament.

He wants to stop groups that carry out terminations from offering advice and counselling to pregnant women, because of their "clear conflict of interest".

The former Labour minister had already announced plans to bring forward an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, working in tandem with Nadine Dorries, a Liverpool-born Conservative MP.

Now the Daily Post can reveal the Department of Health (DoH) is exploring how to make the switch without a showdown on the Commons floor – by changing existing regulations.

The proposed change has already triggered anger on the Labour benches, with health spokeswoman Diane Abbott describing it as an attempt to "turn the clock back for millions of women".

But Mr Field insisted it would increase – not restrict – choice for women, who would no longer be restricted to advice from groups receiving a "large fee" for carrying out abortions. And, as evidence that he was not attempting to curb women's rights, he pointed out he also favoured making the morning-after pill free, over-the-counter, at pharmacies.