UK Govt demands services to start offering abortions in Northern Ireland

The UK Government has brought forward regulations to force the commissioning of abortion services in NI "within days to weeks".

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has taken new powers to force action on the issue, over the heads of Northern Ireland politicians. It follows months of political deadlock.

Mr Lewis told the BBC: "The Department of Health has said the main thing that has held them up is not being able to get this through the executive - we've taken that away, they can now crack on and deliver it".

"I think this has taken far too long already, it's a complicated legal area... we will allow the department a little bit of time to deliver on this."

Abortion rules were imposed on Northern Ireland by Westminster in 2019 when Stormont was not functioning but the NI Executive has chosen not to order services to be commissioned.

In recent months, pro-abortion groups have increased calls on the UK Government to step in, and ignore the devolution settlement which puts decisions on abortion in the hands of MLAs.

Rebecca Stevenson, Policy Officer at CARE for NI, said:

“Today’s announcement by the UK Government disrespects both the devolution settlement and the tens-of-thousands of pro-life people here who do not support the imposition of abortion services.

“We mustn’t forget that abortion law was forced on Northern Ireland at a time when Stormont was not functioning. This highly controversial, and divisive change was made over the heads of NI politicians, and NI citizens.

“Now we see the UK Government manoeuvring again at a time when MLAs are yet to agree the shape of governance going forward. Mr Lewis has trampled on democracy, and appears to have little respect for the pro-life community in NI.

“We urge the UK Government will think again about its controversial decision. We would never see such overreach on a matter of devolved policy in Scotland and Wales.

“CARE, and our thousands of supporters across NI, believe both lives matter in every pregnancy, and will continue to argue for policies that protect both mother and baby.”