MPs bid to force government to act over ban on abortion in Northern Ireland

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MPs will try to force the government to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland when the Commons votes this evening on a motion tabled by Labour MPs.

The amendment, which would force ministers to ensure that the law in the region is compatible with human rights legislation, has been tabled by Labour backbenchers Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn but has the backing of a number of Tories.

Both the Conservatives and Labour are expected to give their MPs a free vote on the matter, raising the prospect that it could pass.

It comes after the Commons yesterday voted by 208 to 123 in favour of a largely symbolic motion to scrap the 157-year-old laws that make abortion illegal in Northern Ireland. It was backed by several Tory ministers, including women and equalities minister Penny Mordaunt, piling pressure on Ms May to act.

Proposing her amendment, Ms Creasy told the Commons: "This amendment would not create a new law in Northern Ireland but what it would do is recognise that there are thousands of people in Northern Ireland whose lives right now are affected by two key human rights issues.

“They are human rights issues because the are issues on which our courts are currently discussing, ruling and indeed appealing."

She added: “They refer in particular to the right of somebody to be able to marry who they love and the right of women to have bodily autonomy. To make the choice, if they wish, to not continue with an unwanted pregnancy.”

Follow the action as it happened...

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MPs will vote later today on an amendment that could pave the way for abortion being legalised in Northern Ireland. 

The motion has been tabled by Labour MPs Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn but has the backing of a number of Tories, raising the prospect that it could pass.

It states that the UK government can overturn the current law in Northern Ireland without needing the approval of the Stormont assembly.

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More Tories have pledged their support for the amendment on legalising abortion in Northern Ireland, with Anna Soubry and Nick Boles the latest to confirm their backing.

Over 100 MPs have now signed up the amendment, which looks likely to be approved when the Commons votes on it later this afternoon.