Abortion legislation amendments discussed

The sensitive issue of abortion will be debated in the Commons today, with Conservative backbencher Nadine Dorries’s amendment expected to be rejected.

Dorries, supported by Frank Field, Labour's former welfare reform minister, proposed that legislation should be changed to introduce independent counselling for women seeking abortion. This would remove the responsibility from charities and organisations that provide the abortion service.

It is the first time abortion has been debated since 2008, when ministers voted to maintain the current upper limit of abortion to 24 weeks. Prime Minister David Cameron has previously supported an unsuccessful amendment by Dorries to reduce the upper limit to 20 weeks.

Cameron has stated his intent to vote against the new amendment, as will Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. Most Labour MPs will also join the opposition.

Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert has proposed a rival amendment, to prevent any organisation from offering counselling unless it followed “current evidence-based guidance produced by a professional medical organisation specified by the secretary of state”.

Evan Harris, a doctor and former MP who is advising Huppert, told the Guardian: “It is unethical for the NHS to be signposting, or even referring, women to organisations which make up information or which seek to persuade women either way though guilt, shame or lies.