Poll Suggests Reform Of NI Abortion Law

Two-thirds of people in Northern Ireland think Westminster politicians should legislate for abortion reform in the absence of a functioning government, according to an Amnesty International poll.

The charity surveyed 1,000 people seeking their opinions about abortion in cases involving rape or incest.

It also asked who should reform the law with Westminster being the consistent answer across all demographic groups.

Abortion law in Northern Ireland is much stricter than in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Under current legislation, a termination is only permitted here if a woman's life is at risk or there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.

Amnesty International's survey comes as a number of Conservative MPs have recently told the UK government it must "wake up" and decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland.

The poll also showed that 65% of DUP supporters said Westminster should legislate on the issue in the absence of a Northern Ireland assembly, and 63% of Sinn Fein voters agreed.

Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 65% believe that having an abortion should not be a crime, a figure that has risen by 5% since the last poll two years ago.

(JG)