Cross-party female MPS want Nireland abortion debate

A CROSS-PARTY group of female MPS will call for an emergency debate on Northern Ireland abortion law today, as they urge the Government to repeal a 150-year-old piece of legislation that bans the procedure.

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, is leading efforts to decriminalise abortion in the province in the wake of the landslide referendum result in the Republic two weeks ago.

Joining forces with Sarah Wollaston, the Tory chairman of the Commons health committee, and Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Greens, Ms Creasy is campaigning to repeal sections of a 19th century law, which still applies today in Northern Ireland.

They will ask John Bercow, the Speaker, to grant an emergency debate on the issue, expected to take place tomorrow if successful, and with the view to ensuring MPS are given a vote at the end of it.