Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy

MPs called for reform of abortion law during an impassioned debate in Westminster about the continuing ban in Northern Ireland.

Labour backbencher Stella Creasy urged parliament to consider repealing the two sections of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 that criminalise "procuring the miscarriage of any women".

It follows the Republic of Ireland's referendum on abortion, which saw 66 per cent of voters back lifting the ban in that country.

The Walthamstow MP asked for a bill to be brought to the house within 150 days as she told the Commons: "This is a statement of intent. We want deeds not just words. The women of Northern Ireland, indeed the women of England and Wales, deserve modern abortion law."

Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, said she personally backed abortion reform but argued that the Northern Ireland Assembly must be restored to consider the issue.

"The Prime Minister has been clear in her support for women's rights in respect of access to safe abortions and she welcomed the referendum result in Ireland," said Ms Bradley.

"We are in agreement that the best way forward for Northern Ireland is through locally accountable politicians making important decisions through devolution, and for the people of Northern Ireland to have their say on the devolved issues which affect their daily lives."

Penny Mordaunt, minister for women and equalities, said MPs had sent a message to Northern Ireland's politicians that if they do not act on the issue, "we will".

Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who supported the request for an emergency debate, told the Commons of her "incredibly hard decision" to have a termination.

She said: "I was ill when I made the incredibly hard decision to have a termination: I was having seizures every day, I wasn't even able to control my own body, let alone care for a new life."

Ms Allen asked: "How can it be that Northern Ireland will soon be the only part of Great Britain and Ireland where terminations are to all intents and purposes outlawed?"

Speaking of the women of Northern Ireland, she said: "This has become their moment and they will have my unequivocal support."

Opposition to repeal of the 150 year-old law came from Tory and DUP MPs who argued that it would "impose" one of the most liberal abortion regimes anywhere in the world.

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, argued that repeal would also remove safeguard imposed by the Abortion Act 1967.

The Congleton MP added: "Already we have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world and yet campaigners want to I believe liberalise them further.

"Colleagues should be under no illusions, repealing these sections would effectively pave the way to review comprehensively our current abortion legislation, not just for Northern Ireland but also for England and Wales.

"We could see abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, that would be wrong and we should resist it."

The DUP's equality spokeswoman Emma Little Pengelly and Tory MP Maria Caulfield both argued that it would introduce "abortion on demand for any reason up to 24 weeks."

DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and MP Sammy Wilson quoted the statistic that 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland due to the Abortion Act 1967 not being introduced.

Sir Jeffrey said: "I am proud of the fact that there are so many people alive in Northern Ireland today because we have a law that respects the rights of both women and of the unborn child and we will maintain that position."

He added: "There are strong voices on both sides of this debate, this is a devolved issue - it should be left to the people of Northern Ireland to decide."

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

The three-hour debate culminated in an overwhelming vote in favour of noting that parliament had considered the role of parliament in repealing sections 58 and 59 of the 1861 law.