TM will allow a debate on restricting abortion to cling on to power.

[catgirl1976]

AIBU to be disgusted? I'm reading that she will allow a UK debate on abortion limits to secure the DUP's support.

She's a disgrace. I don't care if you voted Tory or Labour or for Lord Buckethead, but surely any woman must feel appalled that their rights are up for sale to secure her (untenable anyway) position.

The cut off point must not be lowered. Any attempt to do so would be only the start of the erosion of a woman's right to choose. That this regressive debate is even beginning again shows how dangerous the DUP are.

Either: "Abortion should be freely available to any woman who wants one. "

Or: "terminating a pregnancy AFTER the point at which the unborn baby can survive is problematic for many people, including me."

If you believe abortion should be dependent upon whether or not a foetus can survive outside the womb, then you don't believe that abortion should be freely available to any woman who wants one.

We should be campaigning for access to abortion in Northern Ireland, instead we're having to defend the rights we have here.

www.wetrustwomen.org.uk

So people believe there should be no limit on abortion? As in a woman can have one at any time during the pregnancy?

At the same time, terminating a pregnancy AFTER the point at which the unborn baby can survive is problematic for many people, including me.

How many abortions happen this late?
How many could survive at 22 weeks? Late abortions tend to be for medical reasons.
If you're pregnant by mistake you'll deal with it ASAP.

NoLoveOfMine Then never do it. It's no-one's choice but the woman herself.

Actually, when you are asking for the intervention of other people, especially medical professionals, and often the State (services on the NHS), it ceases to be your private business.

No, it's only the woman's choice. It's the duty of the state to provide abortion services women need to exercise that choice if they wish to.

Many women don't believe abortion should be freely available. Many wouldn't be happy with abortion for sex selection, for example.

blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/05/new-poll-shows-good-deal-unease-current-abortion-law/#

7 out of 10 women want to reduce the time limit.
6 out of 10 women want to reduce it to 16 weeks or fewer.

Then they don't need to have one on any grounds they see as unacceptable.

Why did Owen have to go in with the big guns straight away? Couldn't we just offer weekly Bible reading classes or something to get the DUP on side?

Interestingly in 2008 George Osborne voted against shortening the limit.

Glittery but sometimes you can't get an appointment in time, or you don't realise you're pregnant until later on.

That's what I believe nostrings. I think it's utterly barbaric to force a woman to carry a foetus to term against her will.

This is a huge step backwards and I don't understand how people on this thread can defend it.

At a time when the focus should be on giving women in NI access to abortion, we're considering lowering the limit (don't give me crap about medical science when we're discussing a party of Creationists) for everyone.

If you don't like the idea of abortion at 22 weeks, don't have one.

Anyone who doesn't agree with abortion is perfectly entitled never to have one.

This is extremely dangerous and a worrying attack on women's rights and bodily autonomy is about to commence from government it seems. We need full decriminalisation across the UK, instead we're having to defend the rights we have from a misogynistic desire to control women and our bodies. Women don't have abortions lightly. We must be free to choose.

A lot of serious problems aren't even picked up until a 20+ week scan, and people need time to make decisions, and the NHS needs time to do procedures if they are chosen..

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Yes nostrings many people believe abortion should be available at any stage during the pregnancy, including me.

Mainly because I don't believe any woman would have an abortion for shits and giggles especially not a late abortion and can trusted to have full autonomy over their own bodies.

Often with these things there is a huge backlog with the services as well.

When I was a lot younger I had a surgical abortion. I went to my family planning clinic and couldn't have been more than 4/5 weeks.

I didn't have the procedure until at least 14 weeks despite everything going swimmingly.

This was around 15+ years ago so things may have changed a lot since then however it's still a very sensitive subject.

Many people have to make difficult decisions and speeding up the process is going to lead to people making rash decisions, both ways. Especially in the face of test results etc.

I'm definitely not happy about this at all.

That's not what he said. Quotes taken from the Telegraph online:

"I don't see many major social issues coming up in the next Parliament."

"You might get a debate I suppose on further reduction of abortion times as medical science advances."

"But the stuff you mention like gay rights and all that, which you're probably referring to, that is all devolved."

"It's not only a free vote issue, most of this,but it's nearly all devolved and that's down to the Politicians in Northern Ireland to resolve."

Scaremongering in order to try and bring down the only option we currently have for a stable government isn't helpful.

As he said the DUP's stance on social issues is relevant in Northern Ireland. Here Brexit and the Union are probably the most important issues as regards an alliance between the DUP and Tories.

If you look at stats for pregnancies terminated after 22 weeks they are such a tiny proportion of abortions.

They are also overwhelmingly done for medical reasons (indeed, this is the current law in England, after 24 weeks it's only allowable for medical reasons) OR because the pregnant woman was unable to find a provider/travel to a provider/get an appointment until then. (overseas stats)

You can feel the baby moving by 22 weeks. It must be an absolutely grim and heart wrenching decision. Nobody does that for fun. Therefore there is NO moral highground in banning it. All you achieve is to reduce desperate women's already shitty options further.

By swimmingly I didn't mean that to sound flippant but more in the case of there was no issues medically/mental health wise etc. It was a horrible time and still something I feel great sadness about but it was the right choice for all parties.

The DUP have not gone into this out of the kindness of their hearts. They will try and get everything they can out of it.

This is a very important issue of course but let's face it, it's not like they're talking about this particular issue on this day of all days because it's important but as part of making nice to the DUP in order to cling to power. It has nothing to do with abortion it's more or less a case of "pick a DUP issue out of a hat." That shows they will do anything to cling to power.

For the people who are pro- restrictions on abortion. How do you feel about the rest of the DUP policies?

I find it hard to live in Northern Ireland knowing I can't have an abortion if necessary. Now others have to worry about it being lowered. It makes me sick!