May 13, 2008 / 00:34 am
The leaders of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland have written to MPs in the British Parliament stating their opposition to extending the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.
The action marks the first time all four parties have taken a united stand on a major issue, the BBC News reports.
The Liberal Democrats in the British Parliament have proposed an amendment that would expand the act’s permissive abortion laws to include Northern Ireland.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill, which could include the amendment, was scheduled for a second reading in the House of Commons on Monday.
According to BBC News, Jeffrey Donaldson, chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly's pro-life group, said: "The pro-life group in the assembly thought it would be useful for the four leaders to write to each MP re-stating that position."
"I think it's a very powerful message we have here, four political leaders coming from very diverse political perspectives but united in their view that we do not want the 1967 Act, with all its implications, imposed on Northern Ireland," Donaldson said.
"The issue of abortion is a matter that should be left to the assembly itself.”
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