Theresa May faces backlash over DUP's 'deeply worrying' abortion stance

Robin de Peyer10 June 2017
WEST END FINAL

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Theresa May is facing a growing row over abortion because of her plans to govern alongside the socially hardline Democratic Unionist Party.

The Prime Minister has been criticised over a deal struck with the Northern Irish party after the Conservatives lost their majority in a disastrous election performance.

The DUP has a consistently anti-abortion stance, with its leader Arlene Foster saying: “I would not want abortion to be as freely available here as it is in England.”

Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless a woman’s life is in danger or there is a serious or permanent risk to her mental or physical health. As it stands, fatal foetal abnormalities, rape and incest are not grounds for an abortion.

Partnership: the DUP's leader Arlene Foster with Theresa May
PA

A former Tory minister has now suggested that MPs could vote to reduce time limits on women having pregnancies terminated as a result of the deal with the DUP.

Owen Paterson, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, said: “You might get a debate I suppose on further reduction of abortion times as medical science advances.”

The comments sparked a backlash as hundreds of protesters gathered in central London to voice their anger against the planned partnership.

Abortion rights charity the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said in a statement: “The very idea that abortion rights could be used as a bargaining tool as part of these negotiations is deeply worrying.

"Ten MPs with quite frankly extremist views on abortion must not be allowed to threaten an area of healthcare that one in three women will need in their lifetime. Our politicians should be focused on improving abortion access, including decriminalisation and NHS funding for women in Northern Ireland, not trading away our hard earned rights in a backroom deal.”

Green Party deputy leader Amelia Womack said the DUP's stance on abortion has left women in Northern Ireland in "dire circumstances" and described the potential tie-up with the Tories as a "coalition of cruelty".

After hearing of Mr Paterson's comments on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Labour MP Jo Stevens tweeted: "This is just 1 reason why Theresa May doing a deal with £DUP is chilling @labourwomen @bpas1968 @Abortion-Rights".

A petition against the Conservatives' deal with the DUP hit 500,000 signatures after being set up on Friday.

At the protest in London, people chanted for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and hit out at the deal with the DUP.

Luke O'Neill, who voted for Labour in Kensington, said he felt Mr Corbyn had motivated young people.

The 27-year-old said: "May's mandate has gone, that's probably the best news and Labour is gaining - that is the best news as well.

"Jeremy Corbyn gave us power, that's what he's all about."

The nursery worker said he was "angry" that Mrs May had done a deal with the DUP, although he admitted he did not initially know who they were.

"I've never seen people more hateful in my life," he said.

"I didn't know who the DUP were, I had to Google them, as many people no doubt in this country would have had to Google them."

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