Simon Harris has appealed directly to middle-ground voters in the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment, arguing that a 12-week law is the only way to avoid rape victims having to travel abroad for abortions.

The health minister has warned that people should not “fool themselves” into thinking that the government would be able to help victims of sexual crime or women who are told that their baby has no chance of surviving a pregnancy unless there is a “yes” vote in this summer’s referendum.

Speaking to The Times, Mr Harris urged people not to focus exclusively on what law might follow any possible repeal of the Eighth Amendment and argued that support for the proposal to allow free access up to 12 weeks