BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field will spearhead a proposed major shake-up of abortion law next year.

The former Labour welfare minister and Liverpool-born Tory MP Nadine Dorries will table an amendment to offer independent counselling to women considering a termination.

They believe it will offer a breathing space and separate counselling services from abortion clinics.

Anti-abortion campaigners reckon it could cut the termination rate by a third – or 60,000 – a year.

But abortion charities are opposing the move, claiming it will mean delays and therefore greater risk to pregnant women.

Last night Mr Field said critics had misunderstood the point of the amendment to the health and social care bill currently going through Parliament.

He said: “The aim is to ensure the advice and counselling services, which taxpayers pay for, are provided independently from the body which carries out abortions.

“The abortion charities are seeing this as an attack on their work.

“It is not. I hope before we reach this debate next week, each of the main charities will publish how many women make use of their counselling services and how many do and do not go on to have an abortion.

“I am anxious that taxpayers’ money is used so people can have a choice – we are paying for independent counselling and that is what should be provided.”

Ms Dorries, a former nurse, said: “Abortion has become a factory-efficient process which denies women the right to independent, professional counselling.”

Ministers are expected to announce new powers to local authorities to choose whether they separate counselling from clinics or keep services as they are.

Mr Field said if the Government took that route, he would call for a clear vote under parliamentary procedures.

But the Conservative party’s women’s organisation urged all MPs to vote against the amendment.

Chairman Niki Molnar said: “Delaying abortions can lead to infertility and psychological problems, so why heap more pressure on a woman if she feels she has done all the research and considered all her options?”