The Northern Ireland Secretary has been accused of misleading MPs about human rights laws, after refusing to act on the province’s bans on abortion and same-sex marriage.

Karen Bradley sparked a backlash when she announced she would not intervene, despite the Commons passing guidance requiring her to take into account “human rights obligations”.

Campaigners had hailed an “historic day” when, in October, MPs forced the government to increase oversight of Belfast – two years after power-sharing collapsed.

But Ms Bradley not only insisted both abortion and marriage law remained matters “for the devolved administration”, but also argued Belfast had responsibility for ensuring equal rights.

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who spearheaded the amendment, insisted that was factually wrong – because Westminster had authority for “international human rights obligations”.

The controversy blew up as Ms Creasy accused the government of putting its propping up by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ahead of “the victims of domestic violence”.

Ministers are alleged to have shut down a further amendment to liberalise abortion rights in Northern Ireland, by restricting their domestic abuse bill to England and Wales.

“Fight us fair and square on abortion rights in this place, not through backroom deals and bargaining,” Ms Creasy said, raising an urgent question in parliament.

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

In reply, Victoria Atkins, a home office minister, said it was normal practice for changes to criminal law to “expand to England and Wales only”.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service had described the October amendment - approved in the Commons with a majority of 90 – as “an important step forward” to ensure women’s “basic rights”.

But, in her first response, required after three months, Ms Bradley wrote: “The current absence of devolved government in Northern Ireland should not dislodge the principle that it is for the devolved administration to both legislate on, and ensure compliance with, human rights obligations in relation to such devolved matters.”

She added: “I am firmly of the view that the people of Northern Ireland need their elected representatives back in government to take important decisions on the issues that matter most to them.”

Ms Creasy said the first sentence was incorrect because the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), ratified by the UK, required national government to “fulfil its obligations to all women within its jurisdiction”.

Furthermore, the 1998 Northern Ireland Act said “obligations under the Human Rights Convention” remained under Westminster’s control.

Ms Creasy told The Independent: “The secretary of state for Northern Ireland tried to slip out a statement absolving her of any responsibility for the human rights of citizens of Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland's current abortion law is in breach of human rights. Devolution can be no excuse for denying women in Northern Ireland their human rights.”