Jeremy Corbyn says Westminster should extend abortion reforms if Northern Ireland can’t form a government Jeremy Corbyn has told DUP leader Arlene Foster that Westminster should rule on abortion in Northern Ireland if she fails […]

Jeremy Corbyn has told DUP leader Arlene Foster that Westminster should rule on abortion in Northern Ireland if she fails to form a government.

The Labour leader insisted that the UK Parliament had a responsibility to respect human rights standards during an emergency debate on termination laws in the Commons.

Mrs Foster has said that abortion is a devolved matter and should only be dealt with by the Northern Ireland Assembly, which has been suspended since January 2017.

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Working administration

Mr Corbyn said: “I would say very politely to Arlene Foster, you were elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, maybe you should play your part in ensuring that Assembly functions and we get a devolved administration working in Northern Ireland.

“In the absence of it, then clearly the UK Parliament has responsibility to adhere to human rights standards, and there is a Supreme Court decision coming on Thursday.

“Labour’s position has always been that abortion rights should be extended, without fear or favour, across the whole of the UK.”

The calls come after candidates for Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee called on him to use the party’s “full parliamentary muscle” to force changes to Northern Ireland’s abortion laws.

Devolved matter

The Prime Minister has so far dismissed demands to intervene, stating that it is a devolved matter, but has indicated personal support for change.

Mrs May’s government is reliant on the support of the DUP’s 10 MPs to get through its agenda.

The refusal comes despite intense cross-party calls to liberalise Northern Ireland’s abortion laws following the landslide pro-choice referendum victory in the Irish Republic last month.

Mr Corbyn made his intervention as MPs were debating repealing sections of a 150-year-old law that criminalises abortion.

Labour MP Stella Creasy pushed for the debate to discuss doing away with parts of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.