Abortion deal sees speech cleared

Theresa May has cleared her first major Commons hurdle of the new Parliament as MPs backed the Government’s legislative programme for the next two years.

The House voted by 323 to 309 to approve the Queen’s Speech with the Democratic Unionists supporting the Government in line with their deal struck with the Conservatives earlier this week.

However it only passed after ministers rushed out an announcement of funding for women in Northern Ireland to have abortions in England on the NHS to head off a Tory revolt which threatened to derail the whole process.

The senior Conservative MP Sir Peter Bottomley added his name to an amendment by Labour backbencher Stella Creasy calling on the Government to provide funding so women in Northern Ireland, where there are much tighter controls, could have a termination without paying.

If the amendment had passed it would have meant the staunchly anti-abortion DUP would have been asked to support a Queen’s Speech which explicitly provides for women from Northern Ireland to have free abortions.

Rather than risk more Tory MPs joining Sir Peter in supporting the amendment, raising the prospect of a Government defeat, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced ministers had found the cash needed.

“I know this is a matter of great importance to members on both sides of the House and an issue which I know my colleagues on the Treasury bench have been looking for a solution to,” he said.

The concession was welcomed by Ms Creasy, who withdrew her amendment without putting it to a vote, on the basis of the Government’s assurances.

Ms Dugdale wants investment.