WOMEN from Northern Ireland will be given access to free abortions in England for the first time, the British Government has said.
The sudden announcement comes after an amendment to the Queen’s speech by Labour MP Stella Creasy won the support of more than 50 cross-party MPs.
The change brings an end to a decades-long struggle in Northern Ireland to give women access to terminations on the NHS in mainland Britain.
Abortions are only allowed in the North if a mother’s life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health.
Northern Irish women seeking an abortion could still travel to England to have one carried out privately, but costs often run up into four figures.
But they will now be able to access free NHS terminations – despite the old policy being upheld by the UK Supreme Court earlier this month.
Abortion provider Marie Stopes UK said it was "a hugely positive step forward, but there is no reason why these services shouldn't be provided in Northern Ireland, saving thousands of women each year the cost and stress of travelling to the mainland.”
@MarieStopesUK has been helping women in Belfast for 5 years. Delighted we will be able to provide NHS services at our England clinics too
— Simon Cooke (@SimonCookeMSI) June 29, 2017
The news was also welcomed by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service which described it as a "landmark moment – for years the women of Northern Ireland, despite being UK citizens and taxpayers, have not been entitled to NHS-funded treatment".
However, pro-life charity Life said the British Government should be "neutral on the issue of abortion".
“This action by the Department for Women and Equalities not only undermines that neutrality, but also shows an abject disdain for Parliament, by seeking to bring this change in via the back door, avoiding full debate on this issue,” they said.
Jo Swinson, the new Lib Dem deputy leader, said the amendment “shows the power of cross-party pressure.”
She added: “Nevertheless it is embarrassing that the health secretary (Jeremy Hunt) had done nothing on this so far and only the threat of a defeat prompted change.
“Women deserve better than having their rights reliant on House of Commons arithmetic.”
