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Bishop puts forward Abortion Bill changes

Fri, 08 Jun 2018

The Island's Lord Bishop wants to make changes to the proposed new abortion laws, reducing the number of weeks into a pregnancy a woman would be able to seek a termination.

Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson's Bill would give provision for women to request an abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, or between the 15th and 23rd week if continuing the pregnancy would put the mother or foetus at risk, or if there were serious social grounds for an abortion.

However, the Bishop of Sodor and Man Peter Eagles wants to make changes when the Legislative Council reaches the Consideration of Clauses stage next week, cutting 14 weeks to 12, as well as only allowing later terminations between the 13th and 21st weeks of pregnancy.

Similar changes put forward by Chris Robertshaw in the House of Keys earlier this year failed to gain support.

The Legislative Council will take the second reading of the Bill and begin the Consideration of Clauses stage on Tuesday.

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