House of Lords back cruel and extreme NI abortion regulations
The House of Lords has overwhelmingly backed abortion regulations for Northern Ireland despite the Stormont Assembly voting to reject the extreme regulations.
Peers supported the provisions by 355 votes to 77.
An earlier bid led by independent crossbencher Baroness Nuala O'Loan for the regulations to be rejected was defeated by 388 votes to 112.
Northern Ireland's pro-life laws safeguarding both mother and baby in pregnancy were changed last year by MPs in the absence of a functioning government at Stormont. However, with the Assembly reinstated and voting against the regulations, Westminster has refused to hand back the power to legislate on the issue to the Stormont Assembly.
The Westminster-imposed abortion law is among the most extreme in the world, allowing abortion on demand and up to the point of birth for a range of reasons.
Opposing the regulations, Baroness O'Loan said: "We now have a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly. Abortion is a devolved matter. The assembly voted to reject these regulations on June 2.
"I ask you to listen to the people of Northern Ireland. Listen to our assembly. Do not approve these regulations."
Speaking in the House of Lords tonight, the former police commissioner stressed that a majority of Northern Ireland's 90 MLAs voted to reject the regulations, and that 79% of people who responded to the NIO's public consultation were against any change to Northern Ireland's pro-life laws.
Appealing to her fellow peers, in her closing remarks, Baroness O’Loan said: “listen to the people of Northern Ireland, listen to our Assembly, do not approve these regulations.”
She was supported by disabled Tory peer Lord Shinkwin, who asked how "denying a human being diagnosed before birth with a non-fatal disability like mine the equal right to be born is somehow not less favourable treatment".
In his amendment, disabled peer Lord Shinkwin called on peers to vote against the regulations on the grounds that they discriminate and perpetuate stereotypes against those with a disability.
The peer, who was born with a rare genetic brittle bone disease, told News Letter: “Although technically the regulations only relate to Northern Ireland, the whole UK Parliament is being invited to endorse them and to thereby legitimise disability discrimination.”
Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Empey said: "Legislation should never have been allowed onto the statute book in the first place."
Democratic Unionist Party peer Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown said: "It was introduced wrongly in the first place and now to add insult to injury we have it in conflict with the democratic decision of the Northern Ireland Assembly."
However Labour former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain said: "I am sorry but it's no good some local assembly members complaining.
"While they squabbled, refusing to do their jobs and instead maintaining Stormont in ignominious suspension for three years, the world moved on without them."
MPs are expected to vote on the regulations on Wednesday 17 June. Please email your MP and ask them to vote against these undemocratic and extreme abortion regulations.
'Not in the name of the people of Northern Ireland'
Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life said:
“Last night's vote comes as a huge blow for the people of Northern Ireland and to the majority of MLAs, who voted to reject this permissive abortion regime at Stormont. The 79% of respondents to the NIO's public consultation outright rejected this cruel and extreme abortion law, however they, along with the majority of elected representatives here, have been once again ignored. Although disappointing, last night's vote in the House of Lords is hardly surprising. What else should we expect from a Westminster Government which has shown such contempt, ignorance and arrogance towards Northern Ireland's democratic process?
These regulations have been resisted at every level, with thousands of concerned NI citizens voicing their concern and opposition towards this abortion regime. These regulations in effect permit abortion on demand for any or no reason, and abortion up to birth for a range of reasons.
We want to thank the thousands of people across the UK who have written to peers asking them to vote against these regulations. The action of so many pro-life people has ensured continued momentum in our campaign to repeal section 9, and we know the pro-life majority here in Northern Ireland will continue to speak for life at every opportunity until this barbaric law is repealed. At this stage, it is important to keep the pressure on our elected MLAs who have the power to repeal this law at Stormont.
Whilst the rejection of these specific regulations is to be hoped for, the ultimate goal must be the full repeal of section 9 - which allows for abortion up to birth where there is a so-called danger to the mental or physical health of the mother. We must continue to lobby our politicians to ensure that every unborn baby, regardless of ability or disability, age or level of development, is protected without exception here in Northern Ireland."