Tory MP calls for debate on lower abortion limit

Britain should have a national debate about lowering the 24-week abortion limit, the Conservative Party’s vice-chairman for women has said.

Maria Caulfield said most parts of Europe do not allow women to abort their babies past 15 or 16 weeks and highlighted studies showing half of babies born at 22 weeks survive.

She told The House magazine: “We need to have a debate. The UK’S 24-week limit was introduced at a time when babies were really not viable at 24 weeks. Now babies born premature can grow up to live long, healthy lives.”