Dear Julie Morgan
Although your office manager Peyer Howe told me that women have got more than enough rights already I would ask you to personally respond to this letter.
Re. Don’t attack the 1967 Abortion Act – defend a woman’s right to choose
I am concerned that some MPs opposed to abortion are seeking to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to restrict women’s access to abortion, particularly by lowering the legal limit for abortion from 24 weeks.
This would have a devastating impact on the small number of women who need later abortion. These are often vulnerable women facing unusual and difficult circumstances such as late diagnosis of pregnancy, rape or domestic abuse or NHS delays. No-one involved makes the decision lightly. Women must be entitled to the right to choose on the most fundamental decisions over their own bodies.
Forty years since the Abortion Act in Britain, an overwhelming majority of people, 83 per cent, support a woman’s right to choose. There is broad opposition to any lowering of the abortion time limit from MPs across the three main parties, from medical professional organisations – the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, from the Commons Science and Technology Committee and the Department of Health and from women’s, trade union and student groups.
I urge you to vote against any damaging amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would roll back women’s crucial abortion rights.
As a constituent, I would be grateful if you could let me know your views on these matters. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely,
