MP bids to cut abortion upper limit

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Medical experts and parliamentarians are to warn that action is needed to stop Britain becoming the "abortion capital of the world".

The Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have rejected calls for the time restrictions to be tightened, insisting such a move was not backed by scientific evidence.

But Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, will tell a launch event in Westminster: "Britain has 200,000 abortions a year, or 600 a day. That is just too many - we must slow down on abortion.

"I respect a woman's right to choose. But we are close to being the abortion capital of the world and it is now time to adopt a more moderate, commonsense approach to abortion."

She will insist that the figures are far higher than envisaged when the procedure was legalised 40 years ago, and say medical advances mean more and more premature babies can survive.

"Abortion is now being used as a form of contraception. It is time to send a new signal about abortion, a less casual message, bringing Britain into line with the rest of Europe."

"With an increasing number of babies surviving at 24 weeks or below, we now have the absurd situation where doctors are battling to save premature babies in one part of the hospital and ending life in another part at exactly the same point of gestation."

Ms Dorries is tabling an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would reduce the upper limit to 20 weeks.

Joining her at the launch will be consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Vincent Argent and Dr Peter Saunders, general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship.