History in the making! Watch Parliament Live at 2.30pm!

[Sunkisses]

According to @SexMattersOrg on Twitter the Govt have backed down on the MOMA (Maternity) Bill and will now use the word 'mother' not 'person' in the legislation!

Women did this! We are winning!

Tune in live here at 2.30pm to see history in the making: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/3ca1efa2-16a5-489d-a5a0-5d929bff81f6

[BuntingEllacott]

seriously, it's like a sleeping dinosaur has woken up, voice after voice saying this is a good, good amendment. After some of the nasty, nasty things we've seen in the House of Commons, this is like an alternate reality.

[EventuallyDeleted]

Thank you for posting, it has cheered me up no end. I listened to the speeches supporting the amendment the other day and was very moved.

[MrsKoala]

About fucking time some sanity resumed.

[persistentwoman]

Isn't it great to hear people openly speaking up for common sense and women's language? How have we got to a stage where everyone is too frightened to say what these peers are saying for fear of being called bigot?

[BitOfFun]

"It's been quite disrespectful to women"- hear hear.

[highame]

Lord Morrow Talking about speed and wants to know why. Perhaps he doesn't know about stealth tactics and last minute, in the hopes that no one notice.

Can't take rights away in order to give to others

[Sunkisses]

"The language used previously - refering to women as 'person' - was disrespectful to women, and I could not in all conscience have supported the Bill previously" - Lord Morrow (DUP)

[LizziesTwin]

I’m having a really crappy day so I’m pleased to read about this. Thank you House of Lords.

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

Thank you! How lovely to see & hear Baroness Nicholson (you can go back in time in 5 minute intervals or pick her name from a menu).

[AdaColeman]

Yay! Mum's the word!

[Palladin]

Excellent news!

[BarbaraofKent]

@Sunkisses

Lord Winston reminds Baroness Barker that he is not a "bigot" for disagreeing with her. He reminds her that he was the first doctor in Europe to offer IVF for lesbian couples

Is this Lord Winston as in Robert Winston, the IVF guy and 'Child of Our Time' presenter?

I know it's ridiculous, but given the climate (and the shit that people like Alice Roberts comes out with), I find myself so grateful that he is a voice of reason! Thank god!

I wonder if he will be hounded as a 'Transphobe'?

People like Baroness Barker are looking more ridiculous by the day. Keep pulling!

[GCAcademic]

It is a day that should never have had to happen though.

Agreed. What on earth was the government - a Conservative government- thinking when they drafted this bill? Unless they did it deliberately to blow this whole issue open. You have to wonder.

[MarshaBradyo]

@Sunkisses

"The language used previously - refering to women as 'person' - was disrespectful to women, and I could not in all conscience have supported the Bill previously" - Lord Morrow (DUP)

Brilliant

So pleased you started this thread op, I would have missed this

[NecessaryScene1]

Is this Lord Winston as in Robert Winston, the IVF guy and 'Child of Our Time' presenter?

Yes. He has gotten a bit of stick in the past for the few times he's raised his head, and he spoke about it.

[highame]

Likely to return to this issue. No return to the language of the early times. Gender neutrality sensitive area, passions, not to slip towards aggressive culture wars in the US. Highly partisan media in US. Rights not to be pitched against each other.

[BarbaraofKent]

But isn't it messed up that we are all celebrating the fact that a Maternity Bill is using the words 'woman' and 'mother'? How have we got here?

[VallarMorghulis]

Hugely heartened by this, what great news!

As an aside, I come from a country where the second chamber is elected, and I've always thought that it's a marvellous idea to have a second chamber made up of unelected members selected because they are exceptional in their field. You just need to get rid of the bishops and hereditary peers

[OvaHere]

This is great. What an amazing breakthrough into reality.

Like others I've not really appreciated the point of the HoL in the past but it seems like they are the last people in the country who can say what they think (whatever their position) without intimidation.

[BaronessWrongCrowd]

You'd hope that with peer after peer saying this a fantastic and that sanity has prevailed and (Lord Winston schooling them in proper biology and not genderwoowoo) that Baroness Barker would begin to think that perhaps she is on the wrong side of history here.

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

Freedom of speech in Universities - Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat)

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Is this Lord Winston as in Robert Winston, the IVF guy and 'Child of Our Time' presenter?

I'd like to know this too - if he is didn't he used to be TWAW?

Does this debate change anything? Has the bill definitely been changed or are they just talking at the moment?

[ARoombaOfOnesOwn]

@Sunkisses

"The language used previously - refering to women as 'person' - was disrespectful to women, and I could not in all conscience have supported the Bill previously" - Lord Morrow (DUP)

Crikey if the DUP think you’re misogynists you really have gone too far.

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

Lord Winston did say something about brain sex and I took a sharp intake of breath.

But, he didn't say anything Alice Roberts-ish

[highame]

Baroness Meyer really good