By Sammie Jones-
Uk prime minister Theresa May is under pressure from MPs to reform abortion and marriage laws in Northern Ireland.
MPs are supporting a bid to pressure the British government to reform abortion and gay marriage laws in Northern Ireland. Labour politicians voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Labour amendment that would force the government to monitor human rights compliance in Northern Ireland over same-sex marriage and terminations, both of which are matters devolved to Stormont.
The bid was led by Stella Creasy and Labour MP Conor McGinn,and was approved by 207 votes to 117, as part of an emergency bill to restore stability to the region’s public services. Northern Ireland is predominantly Catholic in orientation with heavy religious practices that forbid both abortion and gay marriage.Theresa May has her hands full with tough Brexit negotiations, and has also been trying to fend off a revolt to topple her by dissatisfied Mps.
Observers believe there are not enough Mps to oppose her leadership at the moment, but the pressure on her to address Northern Ireland’s divisive abortion laws is one the prime minister would rather shake off. Northern Ireland’s cries cannot be ignored, but there is no easy solution to it.
Northern Ireland has lacked a functioning executive for almost a year now, therefore piling pressure on Westminster to intervene in more matters than they would prefer to. MP Creasy who is pushing the bill says women who have been raped find themselves in the ridiculous situation of facing lengthier prison sentences than those who have raped them.
Creasy told MPs: “This amendment would not create a new law in Northern Ireland but what it would do is recognise that there are thousands of people in Northern Ireland whose lives right now are affected by two key human rights issues.
“They are human rights issues because they are issues on which our courts are currently discussing, ruling and indeed appealing.
“They refer in particular to the right of somebody to be able to marry who they love and the right of women to have bodily autonomy.”