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| Maria Caulfield: MP's new women's role sparks backlash | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Equality and abortion rights campaigners have criticised Theresa May's decision to appoint an MP who opposed the decriminalisation of abortion to a role representing women. | |
| Maria Caulfield is now vice chair for women, but has said decriminalisation would lead to "abortion on demand". | |
| Abortion provider BPAS said the PM's decision was incredibly disappointing. | Abortion provider BPAS said the PM's decision was incredibly disappointing. |
| The Women's Equality Party leader Sophie Walker said Ms Caulfield could "never advocate effectively" for women. | |
| The BBC has contacted Ms Caulfield - the MP for Lewes and a former nurse - for a response. | |
| Currently, women in England and Wales have to prove to two medical professionals that carrying on with the pregnancy is detrimental to their health or wellbeing, before having a termination. | |
| Without permission, abortion remains a criminal offence under the 1967 Abortion Act. | Without permission, abortion remains a criminal offence under the 1967 Abortion Act. |
| Commons debate | Commons debate |
| In March last year, a Ten Minute Rule Bill called for changes to the law, to prevent the prosecution of women who end their own pregnancies without permission. | In March last year, a Ten Minute Rule Bill called for changes to the law, to prevent the prosecution of women who end their own pregnancies without permission. |
| The proposed changes would have meant women who, for example, order abortion pills online and self-administer them would not risk prosecution. | The proposed changes would have meant women who, for example, order abortion pills online and self-administer them would not risk prosecution. |
| However, Ms Caulfield spoke out against the bill saying the idea would leave young women less safe and "embolden" men who force women into abortion. | |
| She said it would become a "charter for extreme abortion practices", including sex-selective abortion, and would fuel "unethical and unsafe" procedures. | She said it would become a "charter for extreme abortion practices", including sex-selective abortion, and would fuel "unethical and unsafe" procedures. |
| In a statement, BPAS (the British Pregnancy Advisory Service) said it was "shocked" the Conservative Party had appointed an MP "who supports the criminalisation of women who end their own pregnancies". | In a statement, BPAS (the British Pregnancy Advisory Service) said it was "shocked" the Conservative Party had appointed an MP "who supports the criminalisation of women who end their own pregnancies". |
| It said Ms Caulfield had been a "leading opponent" of the proposed bill, which did not become law and has not been reintroduced since last year's general election. | It said Ms Caulfield had been a "leading opponent" of the proposed bill, which did not become law and has not been reintroduced since last year's general election. |
| "That the new Conservative vice chair for women believes that these women should face up to life imprisonment is appalling. Maria Caulfield has stated that she wants to be a 'voice for the unborn child'," BPAS said. | "That the new Conservative vice chair for women believes that these women should face up to life imprisonment is appalling. Maria Caulfield has stated that she wants to be a 'voice for the unborn child'," BPAS said. |
| "It is profoundly disappointing that the Conservative Party did not think that a better choice for vice chair for women would be someone willing and able to speak up for the one in three women who will have an abortion in their lifetime." | "It is profoundly disappointing that the Conservative Party did not think that a better choice for vice chair for women would be someone willing and able to speak up for the one in three women who will have an abortion in their lifetime." |
| In a string of tweets, BPAS added that Ms Caulfield's views were "out of step with members of the public and her own parliamentary party". | In a string of tweets, BPAS added that Ms Caulfield's views were "out of step with members of the public and her own parliamentary party". |
| Sophie Walker, of the WEP, and feminist author Judith Orr also objected to the appointment. | |
| Labour MP Diana Johnson, who introduced the Ten Minute Rule Bill, said it was "really depressing". | |
| She accused Ms Caulfield of "arguing for women to still be covered by Victorian laws". | She accused Ms Caulfield of "arguing for women to still be covered by Victorian laws". |
| A fresh debate on the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales was sparked in July, when doctors backed overhauling the 1967 Abortion Act. | A fresh debate on the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales was sparked in July, when doctors backed overhauling the 1967 Abortion Act. |
| Members at the British Medical Association's annual conference voted to scrap legislation that an abortion without permission was a criminal offence. | Members at the British Medical Association's annual conference voted to scrap legislation that an abortion without permission was a criminal offence. |
| Fellow Conservative MP Nadine Dorries tweeted her support for Ms Caulfield, whom she felt had been attacked for holding a "different point of view". |