News,

The British government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill continues to advance, passing its latest House of Commons stage this week. There were attempts to reduce the time-limit for abortion on the non-disabled from 24 weeks to 12, 16, 20 and 22 weeks; all failed. Dr John Pugh, Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, said: "There are people in our world today in no way inferior to us in capacity, intelligence and beauty who were born at 22 weeks. That ought to give us cause for reflection." [BBC, 20 May] Mr Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, speaking for his 12-week amendment, said: "In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity." [Daily Telegraph, 21 May] Three secretaries of state and many leading Conservatives voted for 22 weeks. [Daily Mail, 21 May]

SPUC now warns of pro-abortion amendments. Anthony Ozimic, political secretary, said: "Pro-lifers must now redouble their efforts to stop pro-abortion amendments being incorporated into the government's embryo bill at its report stage. These amendments may include removing the requirement for two doctors to certify medical grounds for an abortion, and promoting nurses as abortion practitioners. More babies will die if such amendments are passed." [SPUC, 20 May] Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion called for decriminalisation of the procedure. [Guardian, 21 May] MPs also rejected the need for both a mother and father for IVF children. [BBC, 20 May]

The leaders of the four main political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly have signed a letter to all Westminster MPs urging them to vote against any measure which would extend British abortion law to their part of the UK. The signatories are Mr Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin, Mr Mark Durkan, SDLP, Sir Reg Empey, UUP, and Dr Ian Paisley, DUP. Liam Gibson of SPUC Northern Ireland writes: "It would be difficult to overestimate the significance of the letter from the leaders of Northern Ireland's major political parties. A joint statement of this kind, signed by all four of them, is unprecedented. Together they represent 90% of the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, which demonstrates the level of determination in the Province to resist threats to extend the Abortion Act. Although Parliament has the political power to impose the Act, the moral authority clearly rests with the Assembly. The party leaders are asking MPs to respect that." [SPUC director's blog, 19 May] Northern Ireland Christian leaders are resisting the bill. Heads of the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches have written to MPs asking that the Northern Ireland Assembly should decide on the matter of abortion there. [Irish Times, 17 May]

MPs also rejected proposed curbs on the expansion of embryo research law. The House of Commons blocked amendments which sought to prevent or otherwise limit the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos and 'saviour siblings'. SPUC said that ethically-conscious MPs now needed to reject the entire bill. Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, commented: "The HFE bill seeks to implement a string of changes that will mean more embryos will be generated but given less respect and protection than ever. Those MPs who until now have been unsure whether or not to vote against the bill must now realise that the bill cannot be made less unethical." [SPUC, 19 May]

The prime minister had said that the bill's proposal to allow hybrid embryos was moral. While respecting colleagues' opposing views, Mr Gordon Brown said: "[W]e owe it to ourselves and future generations to introduce these measures, and in particular, to give our unequivocal backing within the right framework of rules and standards, to stem-cell research." [Scotsman, 19 May] Mr David Cameron, opposition leader, reportedly says that human-animal hybrids could produce therapies for his son who has epilepsy and cerebral palsy. [Daily Mail, 21 May] The President of the Pontifical Academy for Life called hybrids a horror. Bishop Elio Sgreccia said the British parliament's failure to ban hybrids: "constitutes an offence against the dignity of man. It is an attempt of fertilisation between species that until now has been prohibited by all the laws on artificial fertilisation." [Zenit on EWTN, 20 May]

To subscribe to SPUC's email information services, please visit www.spuc.org.uk/em-signup. The reliability of the news herein is dependent on that of the cited sources, which are paraphrased rather than quoted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society. © Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, 2018