Ministers have been accused of putting the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) before domestic violence victims after it was claimed plans to reform abortion laws in Northern Ireland had been restricted for fear of angering them.

Labour MP Stella Creasy had intended to put down an amendment to the draft Domestic Abuse Bill, but she said the scope of it had been restricted – a technical move that prevents her from bringing her reforms forward.

Northern Ireland has a ban on abortions in almost all cases – even rape or incest. Theresa May has come under pressure to give MPs a free vote on the issue after abortion was legalised in the Republic of Ireland following a referendum last May.

But the DUP, which the Prime Minister relies on for a majority in Parliament, is vocal in its staunch opposition to women accessing abortions.

Ms Creasy tweeted on Sunday: “This government cares more about the DUP than domestic violence. Proof (is that) they’ve restricted scope of Domestic Abuse Bill to try to prevent abortion reform in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Show all 8 1 /8 Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Campaigners intervene after police try to lead away one of the three women (centre with sunglasses) who publicly took an abortion pill during a demonstration outside Belfast's Crown and High Courts, where counter-demonstrations were held by both sides of the Northern Irish abortion argument. PA Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Police officers watch on from close by as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity hold a protest in Belfast Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Eleanor Crossey Malone takes an abortion pill as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Ruth Coppinger TD addresses the crowds outside Belfast's Crown and High Courts where counter-demonstrations were held by both sides of the Northen Irish abortion argument. PA Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Eleanor Crossey Malone displays an abortion pill packet after taking a pill Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Protestors dressed as hand maidens stand as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills from a touring bus Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills An unidentified woman takes an abortion pill as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills from a touring bus Getty Images Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills A robot drone delivers abortion pills as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills Getty

“Won’t just affect Northern Ireland but all VAWG (violence against women and girls) – (I am) asking every MP to join me ensuring this scam won’t work.”

Fellow Labour MP Jess Phillips echoed her remarks, urging that the Domestic Abuse Bill must not be used as a “tool to appease the DUP” because this would “undermine the safety of victims from across the UK”.

“If women and children in my constituency are less safe because the government cannot bear to face a vote on women’s rights in NI then they fail all of us,” she added.

The Sunday Times reported that a measure that would have given Westminster jurisdiction over abortion laws in the bill has been dropped. A Cabinet Office source told the newspaper: “A bright civil servant foresaw the potential for the legislation to cause problems for the DUP.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the UK’s largest abortion provider, said: “The idea that the government would sacrifice the rights of Northern Irish women for the votes of 10 DUP MPs is absolutely appalling.”

The Abortion Act of 1967 means terminating pregnancies is legal in England, Wales and Scotland, but it is largely prohibited in Northern Ireland through section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.