When the clock strikes midnight tonight, same-sex marriage and abortion will become legal in Northern Ireland for the first time.

The changes are the result of backbench MPs tabling amendments to a routine Commons bill on the governance of Northern Ireland.

Labour's Conor McGinn MP, who is originally from County Armagh, proposed that Westminster legislate for same-sex marriage.

Image: Demonstrators in London calling for legal changes in Northern Ireland

His party colleague, Stella Creasy MP, then proposed the decriminalisation of abortion, and both amendments were carried by significant majorities.

It meant same-sex marriage and abortion would become legal unless the Northern Ireland Assembly had been restored by midnight on 21 October.


Campaigners for social choice called it "a watershed moment" - bringing Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland.

But pro-life groups and churches argued that the changes were being imposed without anyone in Northern Ireland having voted for them.

Many urged the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to compromise on Irish language legislation and restore devolved government in a bid to block abortion.

Image: Pro-life protesters in Belfast have opposed the legal change

But it would have been difficult for Sinn Fein, which calls itself a pro-choice party, to resume power-sharing in those circumstances.

The DUP has obtained enough signatures for a recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday but cannot form a government alone.

Stormont sat on Monday afternoon for the first time in two-and-a-half years, but its sitting, to protest the changes, was only symbolic.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "shameful day" and vowed to explore "every possible legal option" to prevent abortion services being introduced in the region.

There was an attempt to block the new laws and table a new bill, but the outgoing speaker, Robin Newton, said the parties behind it were acting "out of hand".

Mr Newton said a new speaker would need to be in place before any legislation can be put, and the sitting ended when it became clear that task could not happen today.

Sinn Fein MLAs did not attend the sitting.

Image: Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, opposes new abortion laws

Speaking in parliament after Stormont's symbolic sitting, Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith said same-sex marriage regulations would be made no later than 13 January.

He added: "At the latest, the first civil same-sex marriages will take place on the week of Valentine's Day 2020."

Before it sat, Sky's senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins said: "Pro-choice groups say the DUP - who are arguing at Westminster for Northern Ireland to be treated the same as Great Britain on Brexit - will be arguing at Stormont for Northern Ireland to be treated differently on same-sex marriage and abortion.

"But the DUP says some of those calling for a second vote on Brexit are now welcoming the fact that same-sex marriage and abortion are being introduced in Northern Ireland without any public vote at all."

Last month, the High Court in Belfast ruled that Northern Ireland's abortion law was in breach of the UK's human rights commitments.

Image: Pro-choice activists outside Stormont parliament

Until now, termination has been illegal unless there is a risk to a woman's life or risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.

But pro-life groups argue that Northern Ireland will go from having the most stringent abortion laws in the UK to the most liberal.

At midnight, the 19th century laws which make abortion illegal will lapse, and the government will take on responsibility for introducing new regulations and greater access to terminations.

Until April, when new regulations are expected to be in place, women will be offered free transport to England for services.

Last year, voters in the Republic of Ireland voted by a landslide to end the country's constitutional ban on abortion.