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Proceeding contribution from Emily Thornberry (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 15 July 2009. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Abortion Law (Northern Ireland).


Abortion Law (Northern Ireland)

Many people feel very strongly about this matter, and I am one. Some may know that my family comes from Northern Ireland, and that some members of my family still live there. The people of Northern Ireland have many strengths, but I do not understand why their politicians will not allow women to have access to abortion. The politicians may not agree with abortion themselves, and many of their constituents may not agree with it, but I tell them this: women in desperate circumstances will have an abortion. They may have one illegally, they may try to do it themselves, they may come to the mainland to have it or they may go to Holland; but they will have an abortion and we cannot stop them. What we can do is make it fair. We should give women fair access to hospitals in Northern Ireland, where they can have the support of their mothers and where they can have the abortion quietly and discreetly. Please believe me, they will not have an abortion lightly. They will have an abortion only in desperate circumstances. Every abortion is a tragedy, and every woman who has had an abortion believes that. They will do it only if they absolutely have to do so.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
496 c86-7WH 
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