Repeal the 8th - have we talked about Ireland's 'abortion war?'

[DorothyGarrod]

Nine women A DAY travel to the UK a day to access an abortion. I am vehemently pro-choice and I'm really hoping the law is changed as a result of the referendum in Ireland later this month. Even women who have been raped are not allowed abortions in Ireland!

I haven't seen much discussion of this on here, but perhaps I missed it when I was writing to my MP about changes to the GRC but I found this Standard Issue podcast which explained the issue to me and it is well worth a listen:

Part One: www.acast.com/standardissuespodcast/simep109doc1-part1-repealingtheeighth?autoplay

Part Two: www.acast.com/standardissuespodcast/simep110doc1part2-repealingthe8th

I'm scared to feel hopeful about the outcome of a referendum though...

I hope that exit poll is right. Two to one!!

It is only just out and it is an exit poll not the final result but it gives me such hope for tomorrow. Apparently 87% of those aged 18-24 voted yes. In fact all ages, bar the over 65s predictably, had a majority Yes vote.

It’s an incredible margin- wow- what a result!
Amazing news.

Exit polls look very promising.

Second exit poll has it as 69.4% Yes.

Fingers crossed but I've had so many rude shocks with elections I'm not going to count on anything until the actual results are announced

This is so hopeful for women. I’ve been incredibly moved reading the stories of women getting on flights to go and vote.

www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-exit-poll-projects-ireland-has-voted-by-landslide-to-repeal-eighth-amendment-1.3508861

My heart is in Ireland tonight and I am weeping with joy.

Irishfeminist you are quite right about Ann Lovett’s death being due to the entire social climate of the country in the early 80s, not purely the eighth amendment, which was just a symptom of the malaise of the entire body politic.

I’m abroad and can’t vote, but I am so utterly happy about this I feel slightly sick.

Exit polls are looking good.

Fingers crossed.

Our exit poll showed an astonishing 87 per cent of 18-24-year-olds voted Yes (Irish Times)
to all Irish 'yes' campaigners and voters. Looks like you just saved many women's lives.

This is wonderful news and my everythings are crossed.

Kudos to the women and male Yes campaigners of Ireland.

This is great news, well done Ireland and all the wonderful campaigners.

Let's hope that Northern Ireland is watching and listening to this historic, seismic change in the attitudes towards women and their health that is taking place in Ireland today.

I'm overwhelmed with the impending result.

Fantastic!

Just crying here, I'm so moved and relieved.

Wonderful news; a vote for respect, reason and empathy.

Very good point in this twitter thread twitter.com/ciaraobrien/status/1000271497871740928

‘No’ campaign were arguing for free childcare, better support for pregnant women, financial support, ‘baby boxes’...... will they still be campaigning for these things? Surely they are more important than ever now, for no voters fighting for unborn babies. Unless they were just wanting to control women.

I am keeping absolutely everything crossed and feel very nervously excited about this for women in Ireland... but so far it’s looking very good!!!! I read that one of the anti choice groups has already conceded.

Westminster politicians- you need to be watching and this and you need to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland, stat.

The excuse has always been it would disrupt the NI peace process. I don’t think that argument can continue to hold sway now.

No reason for the ‘no’ campaign not to carry on to press for those things, is there?

Penny Mordaunt MP on the result.

twitter.com/PennyMordaunt/status/1000151089637986310?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

That’s a nonsense from Penny Mordaunt - a “hopeful day for Northern Ireland”? She’s a cabinet minister! What a grotesque abdication of responsibility.

Yes, she is secretary of state for Northern Ireland but I think her tweet was hopeful. She did state 'That hope must be met'

Powerful stuff from a minister whose government relies on surviving because of the coalition with the DUP.

Brilliant news and yes, hopefully Northern Ireland will be next.

I've written to my Conservative MP to ask that they stand alongside Mordaunt and give her support for this.

Change needs to happen now in Northern Ireland. (Perhaps a new thread is needed?)

Mordaunt isn’t Sec of State for NI, she’s Minister for Women and Inequalities.