Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE SCOTTISH Parliament could have the power to tighten the abortion laws under an amendment to the Scotland Bill in the Lords promoted by Lord Steel.
The Liberal Democrat peer, who was responsible for introducing the 1967 Abortion Act legalising abortion, said yesterday that it was likely the Government would be defeated in the Lords, because he has the backing of the Tory peers, who have a majority in the Upper Chamber.
Ministers fear it could lead to tighter abortion rules in Scotland than in England, and decided to leave the power to amend the abortion laws to the Westminster Parliament amid rumours that the Secretary of State for Scotland, Donald Dewar, suffered a rebuff in the Cabinet over the Scotland Bill.
Lord Steel said he did not believe the Scottish Parliament would buck the trend across Europe by adopting tougher laws against abortion, but he said: "They should have the right to get it wrong."
The Government fought off an attempt to amend the legislation in the Commons to extend the power over abortion to the Scottish Parliament, although two Government whips - Tommy McAvoy and John McFall - were given special dispensation to vote against the Government.
Lord Steel, a former leader of the Liberal Party, said if the Government was defeated on the Bill's committee stage in the Lords next month, it would then be up to the Government to decide whether to reverse the change when the Bill comes back to the Commons. "I don't think they will make a song and dance about it," he said.
Lord Steel said he was tabling his amendment as "a matter of principle" as it was "illogical" that the Scottish Parliament should not have the right to decide on the issue.
"One must hope that the Scottish Parliament would be sufficiently sensible that the legislation did not get too out of kilter with what is happening in England," he added.
Abortion is a particularly sensitive issue in Scotland where there is a strong body of Catholic opinion firmly opposed to it.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments