The House of Lords have backed the “extreme” Westminster abortion regime which has been imposed on Northern Ireland, despite opposition from the Stormont Assembly. SPUC Northern Ireland has criticised the decision made by the House of Lords calling it one of a “series of undemocratic events that will impose the most heinous of abortion regimes on Northern Ireland.”
Yesterday evening, the peers voted overwhelmingly in support of the abortion provisions by 355 votes to 77, a majority of 278.
Commenting on the decision, Lord McCrea (DUP) of Magherafelt and Cookstown said: "It was introduced wrongly in the first place and now to add insult to injury we have it in conflict with the democratic decision of the Northern Ireland Assembly."
The Westminster Government enforced the radical abortion regime onto Northern Ireland in 2019. The regime, which permits the unrestricted killing of unborn children until the 14th week of pregnancy and up until birth in cases of foetal anomaly came into force in March this year.
In the first 52 days following the regulations coming into effect, 129 children were killed by abortion in Northern Ireland.
Philip Lynn, SPUC Northern Ireland Political Officer said: "By adding their support to regulations that are the result of an unconstitutionally amended bill, the House of Lords have singularly failed in their role as guardians of the British constitution.
“Their decision continues a series of undemocratic events that will impose the most heinous of abortion regimes on Northern Ireland.
“The fight for the right to life, protected by law, is now shifting back to Northern Ireland. We call on our elected representatives, and all people of conscience, to now support the campaign to repeal Section 9, and to restore legal protection for all unborn children."
“Westminster must respect the will of the people”
In June 2020, the Stormont Assembly debated a motion rejecting the regulations imposed on the region by the Westminster Government. The motion rejecting “the imposition of abortion legislation” was adopted by 46 votes to 40.
Additionally, 79% of the people in Northern Ireland who responded to the public consultation rejected the Government’s proposals regarding the abortion regime and it has been estimated that 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland today as a result of the region resisting abortion law.
Mr Lynn added: “Westminster must respect the will of the people, recently expressed by their elected representatives at Stormont, and the devolution settlement by repealing section 9 of the NI Executive formation Act and restoring full legal protection to all unborn children."
SPUC is expecting the final vote on the regulations in the House of Commons tomorrow.
If you would like to help SPUC repeal Westminster’s abortion regime, sign the petition here to Repeal Section 9.