- Dame Diana Johnson’s amendment could be passed next month in a historic vote
Rebel Tories are threatening to bring down the Government’s flagship law and order legislation if it leads to abortion being decriminalised.
A number of Conservatives are furious that a senior Labour figure has inserted into the Criminal Justice Bill a clause that would mean women could no longer be prosecuted for ending pregnancies after 24 weeks.
It is now widely believed in Westminster that Dame Diana Johnson’s amendment could be passed next month in a historic vote, which all MPs will be allowed to decide on according to conscience, after outrage last year over a case where a mother was jailed for an illegal termination.
But some Tories say that if the vote goes through, they will then go against the party whip in the crucial third reading and oppose the Bill, which covers measures to tackle crime and strengthen sentencing.
One Tory MP told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is so extreme. We cannot have a situation where abortion at any stage is legal – that’s obviously a recipe for disaster. If we have to, I’d consider bringing down this Bill.’
It is now widely believed in Westminster that Dame Diana Johnson’s (pictured) amendment could be passed next month in a historic vote, which all MPs will be allowed to decide on according to conscience, after outrage last year over a case where a mother was jailed for an illegal termination
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins (pictured) has indicated that she supports the attempt to repeal sections of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Tory MP Miriam Cates (pictured) told the MoS: ‘To make it lawful to end the life of a viable baby right up to the moment of birth for no other reason than it is not wanted is morally wrong’
Tory MP Miriam Cates told the MoS: ‘To make it lawful to end the life of a viable baby right up to the moment of birth for no other reason than it is not wanted is morally wrong.’
Her colleague Nick Fletcher added: ‘Decriminalisation of abortion will no doubt end with abortions happening much later, even up until full term. This cannot be right in a civilised society.’ He and others will instead be backing a separate amendment by Tory backbencher Caroline Ansell, which would reduce the abortion time limit from 24 to 22 weeks.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has indicated that she supports the attempt to repeal sections of a 19th Century law.
Calls to repeal two sections of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 grew last year after Carla Foster was given a 28-month sentence for obtaining abortion-inducing drugs when she was up to 34 weeks pregnant.
But Michael Robinson, executive director of pro-life group SPUC, said: ‘Encouraging late-term self-induced abortions is dangerous for women, and shows a sickening disregard for the right to life of innocent babies.’
Catherine Robinson, of Right To Life UK, said: ‘Perhaps Ms Atkins is not aware of how radical Diana Johnson’s extreme abortion amendment really is.’
Last night government sources said the Criminal Justice Bill had not yet been scheduled to return to the Commons and it was too early to say which amendments would be chosen.
