MP says disability abortions "horrendous"

A prominent MP has described UK legislation permitting the abortion of disabled preborn babies up to birth as "absolutely horrendous".

In a media interview late last year Liam Fox MP, who has held two Ministerial roles in the UK Government, said: “I think our laws are far too liberal in the United Kingdom”.

Referencing a legal challenge to provisions on disability by campaigner Heidi Crowter, he added: “The fact that you can abort babies with Down’s syndrome right up to 40 weeks, I think is absolutely horrendous.

The MP went on to suggest that UK laws should be more more akin to those in most EU nations, where the median time limit is 12 weeks gestation.

At present, abortion is available de facto on demand up to a 24-week time limit in England, Scotland and Wales but if the baby has a disability abortion is legal right up to birth.

England’s Court of Appeal rejected a case against disability discrimination in abortion law brought by campaigner Heidi Crowter at the end of last year.

Crowter has vowed to continue the fight and sought permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court. Speaking in November last year, she said:

"When Wilberforce wanted to abolish the slave trade he didn’t give up when things didn’t go his way. I won’t give up either because the law should be changed to get rid of a negative focus on Down’s syndrome – even the words used in it are offensive.

"This law was made in 1967 when we were not even allowed to go to school because of our extra chromosome , so I think it’s time that the judges move with the times and actually meet people with Down’s syndrome and see the people behind the chromosome.”

A spokeswoman for CARE commented:

"It is completely wrong that disability is a ground for abortion up to birth. Would we accept a law allowing babies to be aborted to term based on their sex, or their race? The current approach sends a message that the lives of people with disabilities are worth less than others.

“It is welcome to hear the Heidi wants to continue her fight all the way to the Supreme Court. We trust that, in time, whether it is through this court or the parliamentary process, our country will move away from such regressive policies."