Westminster disrespecting devolution settlement, anti-abortion MPs say

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Westminster would demonstrate a profound lack of respect for the people of Northern Ireland and their elected representatives by commissioning abortion services in full, MPs have heard. Leading the debate, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones, a former shadow Northern Ireland minister, said that despite the legislative progress made, “we all know the reality for women seeking abortions in Northern Ireland is fundamentally unchanged”, adding: “The law simply isn’t being properly implemented.” The Labour MP for Pontypridd said that while she “fully recognises” the devolution settlement, she believes “conformity of the whole of the UK with the European Convention on Human Rights is a matter for Westminster and not Stormont”, with the UK Government ultimately holding the responsibility for “ensuring that all of our nations across the UK abide by our international as well as domestic legal obligations”. “And complex and highly charged matters such as abortion, the benefit of the doubt should always be granted to the devolved authorities that they are capable of managing their own affairs.” Ms Lockhart said the Abortion Regulations 2020 and the Abortion regulations 2021 were passed “despite the overwhelming majority of MPs representing Northern Ireland, who take their seats in Westminster, voting against them on both occasions”. “And as I’ve repeatedly said in this House, the way in which this issue of abortion, a devolved policy area, and the Northern Ireland Executive formation Bill was hurriedly handled, and the subsequent introduction of regulations has been, I believe, unconstitutional, undemocratic, legally incoherent and utterly disrespectful to the people of Northern Ireland.” The DUP’s Jim Shannon also said it was up to the Northern Ireland Assembly to “make the decision on abortion” and that it should be up to Assembly members to respect his constituents, “thousands upon thousands who say that they don’t want abortion on demand” and that “they want to speak up for the unborn”.