MPs Dismiss Abortion Time Limit Changes

Proposed changes to abortion law have been dismissed by MP's last night.

The time limit for abortions will remain at 24 weeks despite arguments for it to be cut to 22, 20, 16 or 12 weeks.

The 304 to 233 free vote was the culmination of two days of emotive and heated exchanges on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

On Monday, MP's voted 336 to 176 against a ban on research into hybrid human animal embryos.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, Defence Secretary Des Browne and Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy all backed the lowest limit for abortion.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said there was no evidence requiring a change to abortion law, a view supported by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

She said: "There is no science that shows us that the survival rates have changed since we took the decision to have the time limit at 24 weeks."

In the debate, Julie Morgan MP said: "The campaign to cut the limit is not an anti-24 week campaign, it is an anti-abortion campaign. I hope MPs recognise these rights over our bodies were hard won and we don't want an erosion of our rights. We need to stay steadfast and accept the medical evidence."

Louise Hutchins, Abortion Rights Campaign Coodinator said: "The Commons vote against anti-abortion amendments is a decisive win for women and the pro-choice movement. But the result also shows the effectiveness of Abortion Rights' campaign of lobbying MPs and protesting for women's rights. Despite a sensationalist and misleading campaign by the anti-abortion lobby, women's voices, the wealth of medical evidence and the majority of the population have been listened to."

Ahead of the vote, Actress Emma Thompson said: "Those opposed to abortion are entitled to their view, that they should not be allowed to dictate to women about their own individual decisions and start chipping away at laws designed to protect the safety of women who cannot continue with a pregnancy."

Pro-life campaigner Ian Lucas said he was "disappointed" that MPs had seen it fit "not to recognise the wishes of three-quarters of the population by lowering the time limit".

Lobby group PROLIFE had launched an online petition to present to the Prime Minister urging amendments to the Abortion Act, which would have reduced the 24-week upper time limit. A total of 29 744 signatures were collected.

It is reported that there have been almost seven million abortions since 1967. Currently there are up to 200,000 a year.

Read: MP's To Vote On Human-Animal Embryo Research

MP's To Vote On Abortion Laws

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