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Proceeding contribution from David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 15 July 2009. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Abortion Law (Northern Ireland).


Abortion Law (Northern Ireland)

My speech will be short, so I will not give way. What I have described is an anti-democratic stance. Why did I use the term "anti-libertarian"? Again, whenever the subject of abortion comes up, it quickly becomes evident that if hon. Members speak against abortion, speak in favour of tightening up abortion provisions or express a principled anti-abortion and pro-life position, there are some who cannot listen to that message respectfully but feel compelled to resort to name calling and demonising the people who do that. We have seen that in the past in the House. Why did I mention an anti-human rights approach? Some people take the view that the solution to what they describe as the denial of a person's right to choose is to deny a child's right to live. I do not believe that, if anyone in the House were to say that a black or coloured baby, a Jewish baby or a baby from the travelling community should have its life ended, there would be a single Member of the House who would not be rightly outraged, no matter what justification was given by that person. However, there are those who tell us that a baby not yet born should have its life ended for no other reason than another person's right to choose. I cannot and will not support that kind of cruelty being visited upon the innocent. Rather than making Northern Ireland like the rest of the UK on this issue, it would—


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
496 c79WH 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Subjects
Devolved matters Abortion Women Equality Northern Ireland
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk