Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DUP threatens May on abortion reform in Ulster
PM under pressure after historic referendum vote
THERESA May has been warned by the DUP her Government could collapse if she tries to reform abortion laws in Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister is under pressure to act following the overwhelming vote in favour of legal abortion in the Republic.
But Democratic Unionist chairman Lord Morrow warned: “If she allowed the Tory party to have a free vote on this then she would have to accept the consequences.
“I think it is something she would regret. But it is not something I think she has any intention of doing.
“Why would she risk losing the support of the DUP? She would not be foolish enough to do that.”
Mrs May’s weak grip on power relies on the support of the 10 Democratic Unionist MPS who strongly oppose reform of Northern Ireland’s strict laws.
DUP Assembly member Jim Wells added it was unlikely the PM would jeopardise her confidence and supply arrangement with the party.
He said: “I think if
Theresa May was going to pick a battleground against the DUP it wouldn’t be this one.
“The Government requires the DUP votes when it comes to getting Brexit through.
“There have been 54 votes on Brexit over the past year and 49 of them have been won by 10 or fewer votes, so it indicates our DUP MPS are playing an absolutely critical role in delivering the will of the people.
“I’d be fairly confident the Prime Minister won’t want to touch this particular issue at the minute.”
No10 made clear yesterday Mrs May sees abortion as a matter to
be decided in Belfast and not Westminster. The PM’S official spokesman said: “That issue would be for the people of Northern Ireland and would need to be decided by a functioning Executive.” Campaigners point out the Executive has been suspended for 18 months and say it is up to Westminster to act to give women here the same rights as those in the rest of the UK.
Mrs May’s spokesman added while the PM had made clear the Irish referendum was “an impressive show of democracy” it was “important to recognise the people of Northern Ireland are entitled to their own process, which is run by locallyelected politicians”. Terminations are currently permitted here only if a woman’s life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health.