Pro-lifers vow to continue abortion limit campaign despite Commons defeat » Central Government » 24dash.com

The fight for lower abortion limits will continue, campaigners promised today after accusing MPs of ignoring overwhelming public opinion by rejecting a cut from 24 weeks.

Moves to reduce the cut-off point to anywhere between the 12th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy were resoundingly defeated last night after a highly-charged Commons debate.

Even the smallest cut, which had the personal support of Tory leader David Cameron, was comfortably rejected by 233 votes to 304, majority 71, in one of a series of free votes.

Cabinet ministers Des Browne, Ruth Kelly and Paul Murphy were among Labour MPs backing the proposed change - which was personally opposed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The Government also saw off cross-party dissent to push through new rules removing the need for doctors to consider the need for a father when approving fertility treatment.

Single women and lesbian couples should now find it easier to secure the go-ahead for IVF so long as they can demonstrate evidence of "supportive parenting".

Pro-life MPs, led by Tory Nadine Dorries, had urged MPs to back a cut, arguing that medical advances meant babies were more likely to survive than when the 24-week mark was set in 1990.

But Health Minister Dawn Primarolo insisted there was no medical or scientific evidence to justify such a change - and warned it could force more women to seek illegal abortions.

The votes were welcomed by the Family Planning Association which attacked what it said had been "cynical" attempts by anti-abortionists to cut the limit.

Chief executive Julie Bentley said: "FPA are delighted that Parliament has resisted cynical attempts by anti-abortion campaigners to reduce access to safe, legal abortion.

"Cutting the time limit, even by a few weeks, would have directly contradicted medical and scientific evidence about fetal viability and would only have exacerbated the desperation of the small percentage of women needing later abortion."

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which offers treatment for women coming for late abortions on behalf of the NHS, welcomed the "outbreak of common sense".

"MPs have examined and debated the evidence and have by a clear margin found no reason to reduce the time limit for abortion," spokeswoman Ann Furedi said.

"It's good to see MPs rightly standing up for those few vulnerable women and teenagers who come in very difficult situations to request a late abortion."

Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, one of the most vocal supporters of the existing limit, accused pro-life MPs of using "made up statistics".

"Parliament has made the right decision, respecting women's rights to access abortion and taking the advice of the medical world about what the appropriate time limit should be," he said.

"It was a good debate although it was a pity to see so many made up statistics and distortions of the medical evidence from the anti-abortion side."

But the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group said Parliament had defied overwhelming public opinion and vowed to continue to fight for later abortions to be outlawed.

Coordinator Ian Lucas said: "We are disappointed MPs have not seen fit to recognise the wishes of three quarters of the population by lowering the time limit.

"This comes despite pleas from many MPs to recognise research which has shown that children younger than 24 weeks can survive.

"We will continue the fight to reflect the wishes of the public, and support the rights of the unborn child."

Earlier the Commons backed the measure in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to end the "father" consideration for IVF treatment by 292 to 217, a majority of 75.

The legislation also allows the creation of hybrid human/animal embryos and the selection of so-called "saviour siblings" - children born to help ill relatives.

MPs have now voted down bids to strike out all three contentious measures.

The Prime Minister was forced to offer Labour MPs a free vote on all three controversial elements of the legislation in a bid to see off a damaging rebellion, including by Cabinet colleagues.

But he has told critics that they must not block the legislation, the first update of fertility laws for two decades, when it comes for final approval.