[Scarlett.]

A former Tory minister has said MPs could vote to reduce time limits on abortion after Theresa May was forced to strike a deal with the socially hardline DUP .

Former Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson suggested the current 24-week time limit could be up for debate after the PM said she would form an alliance with the right-wing party, which has 10 seats in the Commons, to prop up her minority administration.

Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless a woman’s life is in danger or there is a serious or permanent risk to her mental or physical health.

The DUP has a long-held anti-abortion stance and has repeatedly opposed attempts to legalise it.

Last year, its leader Arlene Foster said: “I would not want abortion to be as freely available here as it is in England.”

Owen Paterson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't see many major social issues coming up in the next parliament.

"You might get a debate I suppose on further reduction of abortion times as medical science advances."

The Green Party have warned that a pact between the two parties would put women's rights at risk.

Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party, said: “The Tory-DUP coalition of cruelty is bad news for women.

"We may have seen a record number of women gain seats in the Parliament this week, but the 10 MPs of the anti-abortion, anti-equal marriage DUP look set to have a disproportionate influence which should concern us all.

“The DUP’s obstruction to legal abortion in Northern Ireland has left many women in dire circumstances, forced to travel to England where they are not entitled to NHS-funded terminations or face prosecution for seeking help at home.

“It is deeply concerning that a party responsible for so much pain could be in a position to exert so much influence. Women’s rights are under threat and we must work together to stop a lurch to the right under a Tory-DUP alliance.”

Mr Paterson also tried to allay fears that repealing gay rights would not be up for discussion since the DUP has consistently blocked th introduction of gay marriage.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the British Isles where same-sex marriage remains outlawed.

The Mirror

[MB.]

"Don't vote for Corbyn, he'll take the country back to the 70s!"

-takes the country back to the Middle Ages-

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Chewy

The Mirror

Scaremongering by those opposed to May and the DUP.

At worst the time limit might be reduced, which may not be a bad thing. Six months is very late. A child is viable at that point and I can see few reasons why someone would leave it that late.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Scaremongering by those opposed to May and the DUP.

At worst the time limit might be reduced, which may not be a bad thing. Six months is very late. A child is viable at that point and I can see few reasons why someone would leave it that late.

The Mirror may be reporting it, but a TOP TORY MINISTER actually said it.

[Withano]

I'm so confused how they got 10 seats in the first place.
Its really hard to suggest they shouldnt be where they are, these were always the rules. More than 50% of constituencies are happy, and thats fair.. i just dont understand how the majority of ten constituencies voted them.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Scaremongering by those opposed to May and the DUP.

At worst the time limit might be reduced, which may not be a bad thing. Six months is very late. A child is viable at that point and I can see few reasons why someone would leave it that late.

Do you like the DUP?

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

Do you like the DUP?

Didn't even know who they were until yesterday - so please don't resort to all that 'hard right' garbage. They are a necessity at this time end of.

On the other hand Corbyn's dodgy links with terrorists span decades.

[LeatherTrumpet]

A former Tory minister has said MPs could vote to reduce time limits on abortion


You need to understand journalism here


The Mirror editior wants to do stories on the DUP to trigger its readers so he/she briefs the journos to go for angles. Call former ministers etc and get them to speculate on stuff and then present it as fact as most readers ignore could and may and just read it as WILL

its just a basic baiting article

[Oliver_W]

"You might get a debate I suppose on further reduction of abortion times as medical science advances."

Sounds terrifying, yeah. We might possibly maybe sorta get a debate about shortening the time women have to get an abortion. Oh noes.

Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party, said: “The Tory-DUP coalition of cruelty is bad news for women.

Lol, they have two leaders, a deputy leader, but one MP. Let's pay them bare attention.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Didn't even know who they were until yesterday - so please don't resort to all that 'hard right' garbage. They are a necessity at this time end of.

On the other hand Corbyn's dodgy links with terrorists span decades.

Your Jeremy Corbyn accusations hold no weight when you are keen to ignore May's selling of weapons to the middle east. Utterly hypocritical.

[Tregard]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Didn't even know who they were until yesterday - so please don't resort to all that 'hard right' garbage. They are a necessity at this time end of.

On the other hand Corbyn's dodgy links with terrorists span decades.

Aligning yourself with the DUP to save your own hide is not a necessity

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Scaremongering by those opposed to May and the DUP.

FWIW, "people opposed to the DUP" is just people with morals and common sense

[Tom4784]

Nobody who truly believe in feminism could bring themselves to accept a coalition with the DUP. They are famously anti-women's rights.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Tregard

Aligning yourself with the DUP to save your own hide is not a necessity



FWIW, "people opposed to the DUP" is just people with morals and common sense

And Corbyn wouldn't. If not them Sinn Fein. He would have alligned with anyone if it had made him PM. Let's not try to suggest he is any more moral than you would have us believe May is. When it comes to winning they are all the same.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Didn't even know who they were until yesterday - so please don't resort to all that 'hard right' garbage. They are a necessity at this time end of.

On the other hand Corbyn's dodgy links with terrorists span decades.

I was just asking! They are necessary, its the only way to get a majority in government. But I'd imagine torys and labour supporters alike hate this.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Nobody who truly believe in feminism could bring themselves to accept a coalition with the DUP. They are famously anti-women's rights.

Again scaremongering - the DUPs views on feminism will have no impact in Britain.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Your Jeremy Corbyn accusations hold no weight when you are keen to ignore May's selling of weapons to the middle east. Utterly hypocritical.

I think the selling weapons to the Saudis thing gets more attention than it's worth. What would happen if we stopped:
- We'd be down a fair bit of money
- We'd have even more reason to be in the bad books of people who fund terror
- They would just buy weapons from someone else anyway
I don't think the above is worth it just to moralise.

[Denver]

It is worrying how any would want a 24 week old child who can survive at birth being killed

[bitontheslide]

Lets be quite clear. Ruth, the conservative leader in Scotland can simply direct all her MP's to vote down the government if they were to try anything in anyway dodgy. Its simply not possible for any legislation that is in anyway controversial to get passed while a minority government is in place. Whether the government like it or not, their hands are now tied until a party emerges after an election with a working majority.

This is nothing more than scaremongering.

[Denver]

I believe only rape victims should get abortions anyway

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Again scaremongering - the DUPs views on feminism will have no impact in Britain.

Of course they ****ing do, they are likely going to be part of a coalition that will run the country, if you don't think that their bigoted views won't have an impact then you are burying your head in the sand.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Adam.

I believe only rape victims should get abortions anyway

Maybe not just rape, things like risk of life-affecting conditions, death for either the mother or child, or incest.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Of course they ****ing do, they are likely going to be part of a coalition that will run the country, if you don't think that their bigoted views won't have an impact then you are burying your head in the sand.

So if legislature which affects women is proposed by them, do you think the Commons would vote it through?

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Maybe not just rape, things like risk of life-affecting conditions, death for either the mother or child, or incest.

That is already a different law i think?

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Adam.

I believe only rape victims should get abortions anyway

It's a good thing you'll never know power then isn't it? Such a clause is plain silly, what would be your suggestion for all the children that would likely find their way into the system because their parents aren't ready to be parents or are incapable of doing so due to various circumstances? What about unfit parents that would keep the child? If you get rid of abortion then the system will become flooded and cases of abuse and neglect would likely skyrocket.

The idea of illegalising abortion is barbaric and short sighted.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

So if legislature which affects women is proposed by them, do you think the Commons would vote it through?

It'll have the effect of normalising the idea that women's and gay rights could be repealed, a coalition legitimises the DUP. The coalition will be dangerous as **** when it comes to promoting abusive attitudes towards women and the LGBT.

Look at the EU and how the result had the effect of increasing racially charged hate crimes in it's wake. People looked at Brexit and thought that their bigotry was justified and a similar thing will likely happen here.