Historic Vote Could Legalise Abortion And Same-Sex Marriage In Northern Ireland

MPs have voted to extend same-sex marriage and access to abortion to Northern Ireland, bringing the area into line with the rest of the UK on the two major social issues. Both historic votes come off the back of long campaigns by Labour MPs and equality campaigners, who have been working hard since the Northern Irish government was suspended amid political deadlock from early 2017.

On July 9, 2019, British Labour MP Stella Creasy put forward a new amendment clause to extend the UK's abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland. Among other things, Creasy said of the clause:

"If we say to women that we will force them to continue an unwanted pregnancy, they will always be second-class citizens compared with their male counterparts. That is exactly what we are saying to our fellow UK citizens in Northern Ireland. We are not living up to our obligations to protect the rights of the women in Northern Ireland - those one million women are UK citizens."

The vote for an abortion amendment was passed 332 to 99 in a major victory for Northern Irish women. The marriage equality amendment was passed on the same day, winning by 383 votes to 73. When the laws become legally binding, Northern Ireland will be in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, where marriage equality is already legal.

If Northern Ireland's power-sharing system is restored, both amendments will become law by October 21, 2019.

For years, conservative laws in the North have prevented women from accessing safe abortions, which the UK legalised in 1967. At present, anyone found guilty of illegal abortion in Northern Ireland faces life in prison. Meanwhile, marriage equality has been blocked from taking effect in Northern Ireland ever since the UK legalised it in 2014.

Following the two historic bills, Stella Creasy tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who today stood up for equality in Northern Ireland - whether for same sex marriage or abortion, today we have said everyone in the UK deserves to be treated as an equal. There's a road to go yet but today a big step forward #TheNorthISNext #LoveEquality."

stellacreasy on Twitter

Britain's opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn, wrote on Twitter: "Well done to @stellacreasy, @ConorMcGinn and all those in Northern Ireland who have campaigned for so long. Equality should know no borders. Parliament has changed lives today."

Jeremy Corbyn on Twitter

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