I now move to the motion at hand, 
and particularly the report
concerning abortion. 
I feel it is imperative that
I speak on this, to attempt again, 
to highlight the anger, disappointment
and frustration concerning the change in abortion laws,
that have been foisted upon the people of Northern Ireland.
These changes came in the most roughshod way,
with complete contempt for the devolved 
Administration
and the views of the people of Northern Ireland.
So, I want today to make the point to this House,
on behalf of the many thousands of people across Northern Ireland,
who take a pro-life stance,
that we want to repeal section 9
with immediate effect and allow for the Northern Ireland
Assembly
to debate, discuss and evidence-gather on this emotive issue.
The Secretary of State has not intervened
to assist in our crumbling healthcare system,
or to fairly reward our healthcare workers
or to avert the mental health crisis we are facing.
He hasn’t done that because, 
in his own words,
he has said that these are ‘devolved issues’.
Abortion was and should be a devolved matter,
yet this House has imposed, on Northern Ireland,
the most extreme measures of abortion anywhere across Europe.
Northern Ireland has been a country
that has always supported life-affirming laws.
Back in 1967, our politicians said no 
to the ‘67 Abortion Act,
and according to research conducted by Both Lives Matter,
100,000 people are alive today.
England and Wales back then did support
the Act, and as a result, 
over 8 million babies have been aborted
— three every minute, 23 every hour 
or 561 every day,
and that’s only a small percentage 
of them being aborted
on the grounds of a sexual crime 
or fatal foetal abnormality.
Great credence has been given to the CEDAW report,
and the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) mentioned
the three instances.
However, we believe that
the abortion framework which 
looks likely to be proposed by
the Northern Ireland Office will go 
far beyond
allowing abortion on these grounds.
It is my understanding that no
consultation will take place on
the legislative text of the regulations.
With regard to abortion, it is well known 
that the detail of the text is crucial
The ask on that is that we, at least, as parliamentarians
are ​consulted before the specific text
is laid,
and I welcome the Minister’s commitment 
to meet those Members
who are concerned in that regard. 
In Northern Ireland, abortion on request
for any reason will be legalised to the point
at which a baby is ‘capable of being born
alive’.
This includes on the grounds of disability.
I implore my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State
and the Minister to accede 
to the request to have section 9
repealed as part of the ongoing negotiations.
The DUP are a pro-life party, but this
actually crosses traditional boundaries
and there is widespread cross-community 
support across Northern Ireland.
We have an evolving political landscape, and
I say let the people of Northern Ireland have their say on this matter.
On this, Mr Speaker, I will bring my remarks to a close.
I want a society in Northern Ireland that values life,
and I want to see services
that will help women choose life.
We want to see a perinatal palliative care centre,
a maternal mental health unit and better childcare services,
and that is my ask of this Government.
Help us create a culture of choosing life,
as opposed to killing an innocent little baby
that does not have the voice to say, ‘No, mummy!’
Mr Speaker, it is incomprehensible
that the Government, knowing that abortion
was a devolved matter, has published consultation proposals to introduce
changes which go far beyond what has
actually been required by Parliament.
If the Government wants to maintain 
any commitment to devolution,
I would implore them to rethink their 
coach-and-horses approach
to a life-and-death piece of legislation.
