Northern Irish women offered free abortion services in England

Northern Irish women offered free abortion services in England

Justine Greening announces funding for previous pledge to stop charging women who undergo procedure

Jessica Elgot
Monday 23 October 2017

The UK government has revealed plans to provide free abortion services in England for women from Northern Ireland, which has some of Europe’s most restrictive laws on terminations.

The government announced a change of policy in June in an attempt to head off a Tory rebellion in a vote on the Queen’s speech. Dozens of Conservatives had suggested to whips that they would vote on an amendment spearheaded by the Labour MP Stella Creasy to give Northern Irish women free access to termination.

Continued at source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/23/northern-irish-women-offered-free-abortion-services-in-england

UK: Government U-turns on NHS abortions for Northern Ireland women

Government U-turns on NHS abortions for Northern Ireland women

The Government is heading off a possible defeat on the issue at the hands of Labour

Jon Stone, Rob Merrick
Thursday 29 June 2017

The English NHS will provide free abortions for women visiting from Northern Ireland, the Government has announced.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the policy change in the House of Commons after Labour proposed an amendment to the Queen's Speech that would have forced the change.

The amendment, proposed by MP Stella Creasy, was picked for a vote later today – and was expected to be backed by some Tory backbenchers.

Continued at source: The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/northern-ireland-nhs-abortions-uk-pay-terminations-pregnancy-philip-hammond-dup-a7814606.html

Northern Ireland women to get free abortions in England

Northern Ireland women to get free abortions in England

29 June 2017
Women from Northern Ireland will be able to get free abortions in England, the government has said.

More than 50 MPs from the major parties had backed a Labour-led call for the women to have access to NHS abortions in England. They currently have to pay.

The BBC's political editor said ministers made the concession because it appeared some Tory MPs might back the call, risking a possible defeat.

Continued at link: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40438390

UK: The government’s abortion commitment is good news. But it’s not enough

The government’s abortion commitment is good news. But it’s not enough

As long as women from Northern Ireland have to travel for terminations they are still hugely disadvantaged. We need the law at home to change too

Elizabeth Nelson
Thursday 29 June 2017

Abortion for women in Northern Ireland has become a high stakes issue in British politics for perhaps the first time ever, potentially exposing the first faultlines in the young Tory-DUP agreement to maintain a weakened Conservative government. Following Stella Creasy’s attempt to amend the Queen’s speech, the government has offered a new commitment to fund abortions for Northern Irish women on the NHS in England and Wales. It’s a welcome step and will potentially have an immediate impact on widening access to basic healthcare for UK citizens who have long been denied this right.

Continued at source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/29/northern-ireland-women-abortion-amendment-access

29.06.2017

Northern Irish women win access to free abortions as May averts rebellion

Northern Irish women win access to free abortions as May averts rebellion

Ministers announce funding for NI women to have abortions in England, in attempt to head off Tory revolt in Queen’s speech vote
Stella Creasy

Jessica Elgot and Henry McDonald
Thursday 29 June 2017

A decades-long struggle to give Northern Irish women access to terminations on the NHS in mainland Britain was unexpectedly won in the space of 24 hours on Thursday, as the UK government dramatically changed its policy in an attempt to head off a damaging Tory rebellion on the Queen’s speech.

Dozens of Conservative MPs were understood to have expressed to Tory whips their support for an amendment by the Labour MP Stella Creasy to allow Northern Irish women access to NHS-funded abortions in Great Britain.

Continued at link: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/rebel-tories-could-back-northern-ireland-abortion-amendment