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More than 100 MPs have joined a cross-party demand for the NHS to fund abortions for desperate women who travel to England from Northern Ireland.

Pressure mounted on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt tonight as he was accused of "inventing" a consultation to calm the growing row.

Abortion rights are severely restricted in Northern Ireland so hundreds of women travel to England every year to have the procedure.

But most have to pay in private clinics because the government "respects" Northern Irish policy in other parts of the UK.

The Supreme Court narrowly upheld this approach in the case of a 15-year-old girl who paid £900 - saying while Mr Hunt could change it, he was "entitled" not to.

Now campaigners fear the issue could be pushed into the long grass after the Tories signed a deal to stay in power with the anti-abortion DUP .

(Image: Getty)

More than 100 MPs have signed an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for Northern Irish women to be allowed an abortion in England "without charge".

The amendment, signed by MPs from every party except the DUP , will only be debated and voted on if it is selected by Commons Speaker John Bercow tomorrow.

Tory Home Secretary Amber Rudd backed the principle of NHS-funded abortions, insisting the government is "absolutely committed to healthcare for women, and that includes access to terminations."

But Mr Hunt faced anger when he replied to MPs' protests by talking about a "consultation".

He told Labour MP Yvette Cooper: "I agree that all women in all parts of the United Kingdom should have the rights to access healthcare.

"I note there is a consultation on this matter about to happen, and I think the most important thing is that the voices of the women of Northern Ireland are listened to in that consultation."

(Image: PA)

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who drew up the amendment, demanded answers - saying "as far as anyone is aware, no such consultation exists".

She tweeted: "Wow hunt just invented a consultation on abortion access and claimed Northern Irish voices must be heard?! What?!

"No such consultation exists-outrageous!"

The Mirror contacted the Department of Health, but a spokesman was unable immediately to say what consultation Mr Hunt was referring to.

It was thought Mr Hunt may have been talking about a consultation on the law in Northern Ireland, rather than on access to abortions in England.

But the DUP said today that the decision is one for Jeremy Hunt - not politicians in Stormont.

DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr told the House of Commons: "This is not a matter for Belfast; it is a matter for NHS England."

(Image: Rowan Griffiths/Daily Mirror)

Ms Creasy told MPs: "It is women from Northern Ireland who will pay the price for the coalition deal that the Government have made unless we in this House speak up.

"The [Supreme Court] ruling in June this year was very clear that those women were being discriminated against."

Labour MP Jess Phillips added: "The Health Secretary has a real chance to help women who travel to this country by offering them safe, free abortions here in England.

"We would not tolerate other cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, so why do we tolerate this?

"Today I am here simply to ask for a change in health policy in this country. I want our NHS in England to provide a safe haven to the women of Northern Ireland."