Stitched up! Government kills pro choice amendments to the Human Fertilisations and Embryology Bill
A dismal day for British women and British politics, 22nd October 2008 – nearly 41 years to the day since abortion was first legalised in Great Britain - could have gone down as a historic moment, when the UK modernised its abortion laws and women in Northern Ireland finally enjoyed equal reproductive choices. Instead, the day was marked by a remarkably cynical piece of parliamentary filibustering that has probably ended any chance of reforming the outmoded 1967 Abortion Act for a decade or more.
Everything seemed on track. Following the time limit debate in May, MPs from all three main parties tabled a number of amendments to bring legislation in line with women’s needs and clinical practice. The odds for winning the debate, which was expected to be tagged onto the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill, were high. Rarely has there been such a strong pro-choice majority in Parliament or such an opportunity to move the abortion debate forward.
But then it all fell apart. Alan Johnson, MP, Secretary of State for Health, and Harriet Harman, MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party – both of whom have a good track record on equality and women’s rights - tabled a little-used "procedural motion" which effectively denies MPs time to discuss abortion by setting out a strict timetable for the seven hour debate.
So why did abortion fall off the agenda? Two reasons have been invoked. Some claim the House of Lords disagreed with abortion amendments and would seek to restrict the law when the HFE Bill goes back there for final approval. Others that abortion amendments would derail the Northern Ireland peace agreement. Both arguments seem largely unpersuasive.
The reality is likely to be more cynical: that abortion headlines in the Daily Mail could damage Labour in the forthcoming by-election. But then surely the Prime Minister should have seized this unique opportunity to show leadership, appeal to his natural constituency – 83 per cent of the public support a woman’s right to choose – and attract more women voters. Sadly not.
Whatever the reason, Gordon’s ‘gag rule’ is a hugely missed opportunity and sits in stark contrast with the Labour’s equality policy which claims that the party is ‘winning for women’. But winning what exactly?