Tory deputy chair attacks MPs over Northern Ireland abortion law

Tory deputy chair attacks MPs over Northern Ireland abortion law
James Cleverly says calls for Westminster to legislate in Northern Ireland are ‘party political game playing’

Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker
Wed 30 May 2018

Conservative party deputy chair James Cleverly has hit out at MPs campaigning for a change in Northern Irish abortion law, accusing Labour of exploiting the issue for party political gain.

Cleverly made his attack despite the fact that at least 13 female Conservative MPs have publicly supported a change to the law in Northern Ireland, which has some of the most restrictive rules on abortion in the world.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/30/tory-deputy-chair-attacks-mps-over-northern-ireland-abortion-law

UK: Let’s not shy away from the real reason why everyone mentions the DUP’s stance on LGBT rights, but not women’s rights

Let’s not shy away from the real reason why everyone mentions the DUP’s stance on LGBT rights, but not women’s rights

Women can’t rely on the benevolence of individually powerful female politicians, or trust in the good intentions of male politicians who mouth the right words up until the moment anything is actually on the line

Sarah Ditum
Tuesday 13 June 2017

Before 10pm last Thursday night, the DUP was a shambles of a party whose leader Arlene Foster was responsible for the cash-for-ash scandal which has cost an estimated £490m and caused the collapse of power sharing in Northern Ireland. The moment the exit poll was in, it became one of the biggest forces in British politics as the prospect of the party entering into a confidence-and-supply arrangement to support a minority Tory government took hold.

Continued at source: The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dup-womens-rights-abortion-lgbt-rights-reproductive-theresa-may-coalition-of-chaos-a7788231.html

UK: Abortion Rights Must Remain On The Government’s Agenda Despite DUP Opposition, Labour MP Says

Abortion Rights Must Remain On The Government's Agenda Despite DUP Opposition, Labour MP Says

Diana Johnson, who boosted her majority in Hull North in last week's election, told BuzzFeed News there's an appetite to decriminalise abortion in the UK.

Posted on June 12, 2017
Laura Silver, BuzzFeed News Reporter

A Labour MP who began work to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales during the last parliament has said the issue must not now fall off the agenda, despite any likely opposition from the staunchly anti-abortion Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), with whom prime minister Theresa May is currently trying to form a government.

In March, Labour MP Diana Johnson tabled a 10-minute rule bill on decriminalising abortion and replacing the 1967 act with legislation that would make abortion fully legal in England and Wales, bringing the law into line with those in countries such as the US, Germany, and France.

Continued at source: Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurasilver/abortion-rights-must-remain-on-the-governments-agenda

UK: Meet the DUP, Theresa May’s saviours – anti-gay right and abortion

Meet the DUP, Theresa May's saviours - anti-gay right and abortion
June 10, 2017

Paul Hutcheon Investigations Editor

CONCERNS are growing about Prime Minister Theresa May relying on a right-wing, ultra-religious party from Northern Ireland to prop up her wounded Government.

In a pointed intervention, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson revealed she had pressed May on challenging the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on its anti-gay rights record.

The DUP is the largest party in the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly – power-sharing collapsed after Sinn Fein moved a motion of no confidence in the DUP administration in January – but is now set to have an unprecedented role in Westminster politics.

Continued at source: The Scotland Herald: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15340689.Meet_the_DUP__Theresa_May__39_s_saviours_____anti_gay_rights_and_abortion/

10.06.2017