Nadine Dorries' call for UK abortion deadline to be cut sparks fury

Nadine Dorries' demand for the abortion deadline to be reduced by four weeks has sparked outrage among medical professionals.

The Culture Secretary has argued that the legal threshold for termination of pregnancy in the UK - which is 24 weeks - should be reduced by one month.

But the Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, who is also Minister for Patient Safety, told Times Radio she was pro-choice - and also called for the repeal of the rule which states that two doctors must consent to an abortion.

Katherine O'Brien, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the UK's leading abortion provider, told The Independent that Ms. Dorries' calls to limit the abortion deadline were "odious".

She said: "It was absolutely extraordinary at a time of huge political crisis, a cabinet member had chosen this as an opportunity to attack abortion rights.

< p>"When the government collapses around her, she decides to attack the right to abortion. It is also extraordinary because last week Dominic Raab declared that abortion was a settled issue in this country, but members of government in the highest offices seek to restrict abortion. »

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Ms O'Brien noted that women who seek abortions after the 20-week deadline are 'often in the most incredibly difficult of circumstances'.

She added, "They may have been diagnosed with a fetal abnormality with a very wanted pregnancy or they may be young girls who haven't had regular periods, so don't realize they're weeks pregnant."

"No one wants to have an abortion," she added. “Not to mention a late abortion that involves surgery. It is a difficult procedure. It's not something everyone wants to go through. =webp" alt="Sadness and defiance as Mississippi's last abortion clinic closes" height="56" width="82" layout="responsive" class="i-amphtml-layout-responsive i- amphtml-layout-size -defined" i-amphtml-layout="responsive"/>Sadness and defiance as Mississippi's last abortion clinic closes