Politics

Labour leadership: Rebecca Long-Bailey backs stricter abortion laws for severe birth defects


Rebecca Long-Bailey indicated that she supports greater restrictions on abortion for disabled unborn children.

She made the comments in answer to a questionnaire from the Catholic church in December’s general election .

The law allows abortions by doctors after the legal term limit of 24 weeks in cases where tests show serious abnormality in the foetus.

Asked by priests if she would support the removal of this clause, Long-Bailey said “I personally do not agree with this position”.

“It is currently legal to terminate a pregnancy up to full-term on the grounds of disability while the upper limit is 24 weeks if there is no disability. I personally do not agree with this position and agree with the words of the Disability Rights Commission that “the context in which parents choose whether to have a child should be one in which disability and non-disability are valued equally”.

The comments, which were unearthed by the Red Roar blog, also detailed her opinion about whether current regulations should be reviewed.

Asked if the overall time-limit for abortion should be reduced, Long-Bailey pledged that the Labour Party would consult on any changes to abortion regulations, and that she would “play her part” in “ensuring that [the Catholic Church’s] views are heard.”

“The Labour manifesto states simply that ‘We will uphold women’s reproductive rights and decriminalise abortions.’ We have not stated that time limits will be reviewed, and definitely not that they should be increased.

Rebecca Long-Bailey is seen as the natural successor to Jeremy Corbyn

“Labour would propose a wide public consultation on the detail of new laws and regulations and of course I will play my part in that discussion in ensuring that your views are heard.”

She did not take part in votes to liberalise abortion regulations in March 2017 and twice in October 2018 – Commons records do not give a reason.

This included an amendment tabled by Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn to allow abortions in Northern Ireland.

However, Long-Bailey did vote in favour of a similar amendment the following year.

The Salford MP is a practising Catholic and told told the Tablet that she prayed daily and that “my faith is often the only thing that keeps me going”.





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