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MP seeks to lower abortion limit MP seeks to lower abortion limit
(about 11 hours later)
Britain needs to send a "less casual message" about abortion, a Tory MP will argue as she launches her bid to reduce the upper limit from 24 to 20 weeks. Britain needs to send a "less casual message" about abortion, an MP has said as she launches her bid to reduce the upper limit from 24 to 20 weeks.
Nadine Dorries will say it is used as a form of contraception and Britain risks becoming Europe's "abortion capital". Nadine Dorries says Britain risks becoming Europe's "abortion capital".
She is tabling an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would lower the upper limit. Her amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would lower the upper limit.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he believed the original limit "stood the test of time" but MPs would be given a free vote on the issue.
Both sides of the debate are lobbying MPs ahead of a possible vote on the issue later this month.Both sides of the debate are lobbying MPs ahead of a possible vote on the issue later this month.
Ms Dorries, a former nurse who has made several previous attempts to reduce the upper limit, will launch her campaign in Westminster later. 'Commonsense approach'
We now have the absurd situation where doctors are battling to save premature babies in one part of the hospital and ending life in another part at exactly the same point of gestation Nadine Dorries Ms Dorries, a former nurse who has made several previous attempts to reduce the upper limit, launch her campaign saying "Britain has 200,000 abortions a year, or 600 a day. That is just too many, we must slow down on abortion."
She said: "Britain has 200,000 abortions a year, or 600 a day. That is just too many, we must slow down on abortion. The Tory MP said she respected "a woman's right to choose" but added: "It is now time to adopt a more moderate, commonsense approach to abortion."
"I respect a woman's right to choose. But we are close to being the abortion capital of the world and it is now time to adopt a more moderate, commonsense approach to abortion." The best research, which looks at every birth rather than a selected sample ... failed to show any reduction since 1995 in the threshold of viability below 24 weeks Dr Evan HarrisLib Dem MP
She argues that increasingly babies born at 24 weeks are surviving adding: "We now have the absurd situation where doctors are battling to save premature babies in one part of the hospital and ending life in another part at exactly the same point of gestation." She argues that increasingly babies born at 24 weeks are surviving.
Free vote
The prospect of a vote on reducing the upper limit has prompted campaigners on both sides of the debate to lobby MPs.The prospect of a vote on reducing the upper limit has prompted campaigners on both sides of the debate to lobby MPs.
A cross-party group of MPs wants to keep the current limit. Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, a former hospital doctor, has said: "The medical community is clear that there is no medical or scientific basis for any reduction in the current time limit." At Commons question time earlier, junior health minister Ann Keen said only 12% of babies born less than 24 weeks into pregnancy, survived past their first birthday.
'Truly appalling'
She said there was "no evidence of a significant improvement" in survival rates in the last 18 years in the UK.
Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, a former hospital doctor, added: "The best research, which looks at every birth rather than a selected sample ... failed to show any reduction since 1995 in the threshold of viability below 24 weeks."
And Health Secretary Alan Johnson said "as an individual", he did not want to see the law changed and believed the original legislation had "stood the test of time".
But Conservative MP Philip Hollobone said it was "truly appalling" that in England in 2006, there were 59,687 abortions by women who had already had at least one abortion.
Medical organisations, including the British Medical Association and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, have said they are in favour of the 24-week limit.Medical organisations, including the British Medical Association and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, have said they are in favour of the 24-week limit.
They say there has been no significant improvements in survival before 24 weeks.
MPs who agree with the current limit are expected to put forward a proposal to relax abortion laws by scrapping the need for two doctors to agree to a termination and allowing nurses to carry them out in the early stages.MPs who agree with the current limit are expected to put forward a proposal to relax abortion laws by scrapping the need for two doctors to agree to a termination and allowing nurses to carry them out in the early stages.
MPs will be given a free vote on any abortion-related amendments when the bill is debated.MPs will be given a free vote on any abortion-related amendments when the bill is debated.