Arlene Foster piles pressure on Theresa May over Northern Ireland abortion change calls

Emilio Casalicchio

DUP leader Arlene Foster has piled pressure on Theresa May not to tamper with abortion laws in Northern Ireland - amid calls from Tory MPs to act.



The Unionist powerbroker said the decision to relax abortion laws in the Republic on Friday should have “no impact” on the law north of the border.

The Prime Minister finds herself in an extremely tough spot on the issue as she relies on the 10 DUP MPs in the Commons to prop up her minority government.

Over the weekend senior Tory MPs - including a minister and the head of the Women and Equalities Select Committee - joined cross-party calls for a vote on relaxing abortion laws in Northern Ireland.

Women can only get abortions in the country if not doing so would risk the life of the mother or have a profound effect on her physical or mental health.

On Friday around two thirds of voters in the Republic of Ireland voted in a referendum to end similar restrictions - piling pressure on the north, including on the deeply traditionalist DUP.

But a defiant Ms Foster said in a statement: "Friday's referendum has no impact upon the law in Northern Ireland, but we obviously take note of issues impacting upon our nearest neighbour.”

She added: "The legislation governing abortion is a devolved matter and it is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide such issues."

'HOPEFUL'

However top Tories have encouraged Mrs May to hold a free vote on relaxing laws in Northern Ireland or allow a referendum there while Stormont remains in deadlock.

Education Minister Anne Milton and Conservative chair of the Health Select Committee Dr Sarah Wollaston came out in favour of a cross-party bid by Labour MP Stella Creasy to increase abortion access.

Women and Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt on Saturday declared her support for change, hailing the Irish result as a "hopeful one for Northern Ireland".

Three of her four predecessors in the role - Justine Greening, Nicky Morgan and Maria Miller - have also expressed their backing for a push for liberalisation.

Ms Miller, who chairs the women and equalities committee, said: “The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have their voices heard through a referendum in the absence of a democratically-elected assembly.

“No one should deny [them] the opportunity to have the same rights on abortion as the rest of the UK.”

According to the Times, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is yet to rule out speaking up for a change of direction.

The Guardian says some 160 MPs are set to back an amendment tabled by Ms Creasy. Labour and the Lib Dems are on board.

'VERY DANGEROUS'

But Justice Minister Rory Stewart warned that a vote to liberalise Northern Ireland's laws could jeopardise peace in the region, which has been without a government for almost eighteen months.

He told Sky News: "It would be very, very dangerous for British politicians to be seen to be telling people in Northern Ireland how to vote.

"One of the reasons why we have a more peaceful situation in NI is because we have delegated.”

Meanwhile, Mrs May hailed the result of the referendum in the Republic on the official Downing Street Twitter - although she did not do so on her personal account.

“The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign.” – PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 27, 2018