Abortion Rights, the national pro-choice campaign welcomed the strong defeat (5th June) of Ann Winterton's bill to restrict access to abortion. The Ten Minute Rule Bill 'Termination of pregnancy (counselling and miscellaneous provisions) was defeated by 182 votes against to 107 for.

Labour MP Laura Moffatt spoke against the Bill and in response to Ann Winterton's claim that the Bill was supportive of women's rights Laura Moffatt questioned her real motives in seeking to introduce measures to delay abortion access. Ann Winterton is a high profile opponent of all abortion and the measures in her Bill her similar to restrictions which have been imposed as a result of hard-line anti-choice lobbying in the US. Laura Moffatt said that this Bill 'would deny every woman the ability to make the decision in the timeframe that is appropriate to them... A cooling off period would prolong the anguish for women'.

Louise Hutchins, Abortion Rights Campaigns Coordinator said:

'We are delighted that this cruel bill has been defeated so decisively. Every MP who voted against Winterton's bill today took an important stand to defend women against a concerted campaign of attack on their rights.

'MPs must continue to reject the extreme minority anti-choice lobby's attempt to turn the abortion debate in Britain into a US style political battle that has driven back similar rights in the US so quickly.

'40 years after the Abortion Act, it is time the unfair barriers women still face from some doctors and weeks of NHS delays in accessing abortion services were removed not increased.'

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