Amendment to the Motion

Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - Motion to Approve – in the House of Lords at 4:42 pm on 28 April 2021.

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Votes in this debate

Lord Shinkwin:

Moved by Lord Shinkwin

Leave out all the words after “that” and insert “this House declines to approve the Regulations laid before the House on 23 March because they give the Secretary of State the power actively to commission discrimination in Northern Ireland by denying unborn human beings with disabilities the same protections afforded non-disabled human beings between 24 weeks gestation and full term; and because such commissioning would implicate the Secretary of State, and by extension Her Majesty’s Government, in the perpetuation of negative stereotypes towards people with disabilities, as it would provide that while unborn non-disabled human beings from 24 weeks’ gestation are worthy of protection from termination, those who might be born with disabilities are not.”

Photo of Lord Shinkwin Lord Shinkwin Conservative

My Lords, I will keep my remarks very brief. I thank noble Lords who spoke in support of genuine equality. I am sure that that will be appreciated by disabled people and their families, whose voices are so often drowned out on this issue. They know, as I do, that the idea that these regulations are not discriminatory is absurd. I beg to test the opinion of the House.

Ayes 70, Noes 409.

Division number 4 Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - Motion to Approve — Amendment to the Motion

Aye: 70 Members of the House of Lords

No: 409 Members of the House of Lords

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Division conducted remotely on Lord Shinkwin’s amendment to the Motion

Lord Shinkwin’s amendment to the Motion disagreed.

Motion agreed.