DUP Will Not Compromise on Unborn Rights - Paisley

06.07.2017

A leading member of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland has declared that, regardless of any agreement with the British Conservative Party, the DUP will not compromise on the right to life of unborn children. Ian Paisley Jr, MP for North Antrim, said the rights of an unborn child “trump any political agreement” his party has with the Government.

Mr Paisley’s warning was in response to claims of a “backroom deal” between the DUP and the Government made by the Scottish Nationalist MP Drew Hendry during a debate on EU legislation. The DUP has agreed to prop up the Tory minority government on key votes—however, Mr Paisley made clear that it would not be swayed on social issues such as abortion, which the DUP opposes.

It comes after ministers announced funding for women in Northern Ireland to have abortions on the National Health Service in England in order to head off a rebellion on the Queen’s Speech. The Scottish and Welsh governments have indicated they will follow suit.

Mr Paisley said: “I’m going to make it absolutely clear that the rights of the unborn child, in my view and in the views of people in my party and on this bench, trump any political agreement that had been put in place.

“We’re making that absolutely and abundantly clear, and if anyone thinks that we would take a view where we would trade that issue of life and the sanctity of life on a political deal, they don’t understand me and they don’t understand my party and they need to be aware of that.”

The First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, confirmed that Wales will provide free abortions to women from Northern Ireland, as the governments in England and Scotland have promised to do. “We’re looking at the detail of how that can be done,” he said, “but we want to make sure that the same service is on offer in Wales as it is in England and Scotland.”

Belfast Telegraph. July 5.