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Original poster

Now give us the right to abortion in Northern Ireland

75 replies

Elendon · 26/05/2018 18:29

This is a great piece from the Guardian.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/26/now-give-us-the-right-to-abortion-in-northern-ireland

OP posts:
Original poster
Elendon · 27/05/2018 18:53

History of abortion law here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_United_Kingdom

It boils down to the 1861 offences against the person act. Ireland has now left this part of UK law behind.

Teresa May HAS to do something about this. There are stirrings of revolt in the commons.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44272326

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/27/theresa-may-oppose-vote-northern-ireland-abortion-law

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5776253/Senior-Tory-women-demand-Theresa-change-abortion-law-Northern-Ireland.html

May is ignoring women an equal right to reproductive healthcare in the UK. She is upholding the Victorian 1861 offences against the person's act regarding abortion in the UK. A draconian law, even more draconian in Northern Ireland.

It seems that the UK is lagging behind in Europe or perhaps it wants to join with Catholic countries in South America?

OP posts:
Original poster
Elendon · 27/05/2018 18:55

PositivelyPERF

I was born in Northern Ireland and was raised, lived and worked there for 20 years. I regularly go back as my mother lives there.

OP posts:
Eve · 27/05/2018 18:57

Eldon - are you from NI? Perf’s post reflect my own experiences of NI and are why I don’t live there.

As a matter of interest , how did all the Irish returning to vote get to vote? Assume they are still resident and registered as living in Iteland?

Wondering if NI exciles could vote, but I doubt it.

Eve · 27/05/2018 18:58

Exiles !!

Original poster
Elendon · 27/05/2018 19:02

Stop being negative.

That won't get us anywhere.

Take the positive attitudes from our YES voters in Ireland.

OP posts:
FlaviaAlbia · 27/05/2018 19:14

I'm hopeful but realistic. We need a devolved government with less than 30 of them voting against it to get it though, or for the DUP to sit back and let Westminster do it which I find unlikely.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2018 19:17

If abortion is seen as a health and justice issue, it falls in the remit if the devolved government. However, my understanding is that if it's treated as a human rights issue - as it should be - then it is is a Westminster issue.

Melanippe · 27/05/2018 19:31

I really hope you're wrong PERF, but I fear you're probably correct. There's been a weird rash of NI friends today posting anti-choice content on Facebook. I'm really shocked by some of their posts.

ElfrideSwancourt · 27/05/2018 19:37

I'm another NI ex-pat this is one of many reasons that I don't live there.

PositivelyPERF · 27/05/2018 19:46

There's been a weird rash of NI friends today posting anti-choice content on Facebook.

Yes, I’ve seen a lot of that too. So fucking depressingly typical of the ‘good Christians’, to tell women who to behave. They know this is going to increase the demand for women’s rights to abortion in NI. I’ll never forget the disgusting young woman that reported her flat mate to the police because she took an abortion pill. She didn’t have to agree with abortion but to report her was just a nasty attempt to have her punished for daring to deal with her unwanted pregnancy in a way that the nasty one didn’t agree with.

My sister travelled to England for an abortion and a close friend of my youngest did the same last year. Neither of these females felt they could tell people what they were planning because of the fundamentalists here.

PositivelyPERF · 27/05/2018 19:46

Sorry, my sisters abortion was over thirty years ago and nothing has changed.

Melanippe · 27/05/2018 20:08

I’ll never forget the disgusting young woman that reported her flat mate to the police because she took an abortion pill.

I remember that one too. The woman who reported her flatmate seemed to honestly believe she had some kind of moral high ground to speak from, when actually her actions were horrifying. Arlene Foster also appears to operate from a similar self image of unassailable perfection. I suspect the best form of action is to keep on with the standing order to ASN and take the lead from NI women as to how they want to go about getting the healthcare they pay for.

Fairyflaps · 27/05/2018 20:23

I suspect @PositivelyPERF is correct about the current political situation. But that is not a reason not to try. Sent an email off to my tory MP earlier today. Hopefully lots of other UK women do the same to their MPs.

Eve · 27/05/2018 20:35

I always say the reason I don’t live in NI is because the overall attitude is

Do as I say , not as I do.

(Prime cheerleader of that attitude is Iris Robinson)

implantsandaDyson · 27/05/2018 20:35

Sinn Fein are not going to join with DUP to block abortion in NI. They are career politicians - yes but they know that the lifting of restrictions on abortion will win them votes. I have voted for Sinn Fein in the past and will do again purely on their stance on abortion. It's not Sinn Fein that would block the introduction of the Abortion Act - its the DUP, possibly the UUP and the SDLP. That's your block.

LadyLance · 27/05/2018 20:36

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/27/theresa-may-oppose-vote-northern-ireland-abortion-law

There's no functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland, but Theresa May doesn't want a vote in the commons. Is this because of the DUP? Or does she just hate women?

It is so, so shameful that women have to travel from Northern Ireland to have abortions, even if the baby is diagnosed with fatal foetal abnormalities. Of course, it's not possible for every woman to travel, so in effect, women in Northern Ireland are denied abortions.

I hope this changes soon, and also that we look more generally at the provision of abortions in the UK so that no woman has to travel for a long distance to access an abortion.

Totallymyownperson · 27/05/2018 20:38

When exactly is the best Northern Ireland assembly elections? I hope soon so that people can stop voting along sectarian lines and vote for a pro choice party.

FlaviaAlbia · 27/05/2018 20:45

Obviously Sinn Fein is pro choice, but govement from Westminster is preferable to making a government with Sinn Fein for the DUP at the minute. I mean that the DUP will be prepared to swallow their objections to that in order to get devolution back and prevent Westminster legislating about abortion here.

I don't have much faith in the UK govt, equal marriage is a much less contentious issue, the majority of NI support it according to polls, but they've done nothing about that human rights issue.

implantsandaDyson · 27/05/2018 20:54

Yes sorry I know what you meant - I worded mine badly Blush Sinn Fein won't go near the DUP now without an Irish Language Act. The longer the stalemate goes on the more intrangient everyone will get- it's already happening. I said before on Brexity type threads I've seen a real change in attitudes in grass roots communities in the past two years and not in a good way. The lack of Abortion Act will be used as a political football to suit each party's views while none of them really care about women and are content to use women's fundamental right to equal healthcare as a bargaining chip.

FlaviaAlbia · 27/05/2018 20:58

Aah, gotcha, sorry!

Yes, I can see the UK govt using it as a stick to encourage them to form a government here.

If I'm wrong and Westminster push it through I'll be delighted mind.

Eve · 27/05/2018 21:07

I was at an event last week and chatting to local mp...

Very interesting chat - they said view in Westminster is that we might see sein Féin taking up their seats in the near future.

..., can’t see it happening - but would certainly cause waves!

implantsandaDyson · 27/05/2018 21:28

I had a very similar conversation not so long ago with someone (not an MP Grin). If they were going to take their seats it would be now or in the near future. I don't think they'd lose as many votes as previously thought. Any new voters that Sinn Fein have picked up over the past ten years of which they have in abundance I don't think care as much about the policy of abstentionism. It could never have happened underneath Gerry Adams but Mary Lou has made it quite clear it's a different kettle of fish now. I wouldn't keel over from shock if there was a move to take up seats, all hidden of course under the auspices of giving constituents a voice because Stormont as it was is absolutely fucked.

Ereshkigal · 27/05/2018 21:51

Surely it will be untenable with both Ireland and the rest of the UK allowing abortion for NI to continue to deny it to women?

c75kp0r · 27/05/2018 22:01

I think the campaign in Ireland only worked because the yes campaign played a very sophisticated campaign, the no campaign bungled repeatedly and were caught on the hop without support from key politicians. The church has been weakened. Yes used social media including blockers very effectively.
The campaign in NI would need to be even better tto have a hope in hell as I fear politicians and both churches will be harder in NI. Though Michelle O Neill has just thrown her weight behind change in the north...

dinosaurkisses · 27/05/2018 22:13

Michelle O’Neill has seen how the youth have flipped any preconceived notions that they don’t vote over the course of the last two elections in RoI - she’s savvy enough to get out in front of this for NI.

I feel quite hopeful about it- I’m from NI but work in the south so have a decent idea of the demographics of both. If the Irish pro-choice campaigners can overturn public opinion as they did there, surely we can do the same here?

Never thought I’d say it, but if the shinners lead with this, they’ll be getting my next vote.

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