Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan says he will resist a UK Government order imposing abortion “services” on the Province.
Following demands from the NI Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, that the Stormont government increases funding for abortion no later than 31 March 2022, Mr Givan said he will go to court if necessary to block the directive.
The First Minister also said that such a directive has “profound constitutional ramifications and to do it on this issue leads to the obvious question, will he [Mr. Lewis] do it on other issues?”
In 2019, the UK Government decriminalised abortion in Northern Ireland bypassing the devolution settlement. Westminster imposed radical abortion legislation which allows abortion on demand up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, up to 24 weeks on health grounds, including an undefined threat to a woman’s mental health, and up to birth if the baby is disabled.
This April, UK MPs voted 431 to 89 to allow Mr Lewis to directly impose abortion services on Northern Ireland, as reported by SPUC. The vote took place on the 53rd anniversary of the implementation of the 1967 Abortion Act, which has led to the death of over 9 million unborn babies across the UK.
SPUC has repeatedly stated its opposition to this “illegitimate power grab, which undermines the democratic viability of the sitting Executive” and is challenging the legality of the Secretary of State’s actions.
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland, also opposing Mr. Lewis’s “unjust” and “gravely disquieting” directive, warned that the UK Government was threatening the Good Friday Agreement and the NI peace process.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “The behaviour of the UK Government since it unilaterally struck down Northern Ireland’s pro-life laws in 2019 has been disgraceful and dangerous, not only to the unborn but also to the principles of accountable government and the rule of law.
“We welcome the First Minister’s decision to resist this unjust and illegitimate attempt to force the implementation of a radical abortion law which would never have gained the support of the Stormont Assembly. SPUC’s legal challenge is due to be heard by the High Court in October. We are asking our supporters to contact Mr Givan and urge him to stand fast. The Northern Ireland government has every right to block the Secretary of State’s abortion agenda, at least until that challenge has been heard.”
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