The video will start in 8 Cancel

Get the biggest politics stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email

The Tories have been forced into a dramatic last-minute climbdown just hours before a crunch vote threatened to derail the Queen's Speech.

Ministers announced women from Northern Ireland CAN now have free NHS abortions in England - a massive victory for Labour MP Stella Creasy.

The concession allowed the Queen's Speech to pass tonight 323-309, cementing Theresa May's place in Downing Street - for now.

It came after more than 100 MPs, including up to 40 Tories, backed her call for Theresa May to fund NHS abortions for desperate women who cross the Irish Sea because it is illegal back home.

Most have to pay in private clinics because the government "respects" Northern Irish policy in other parts of the UK. One girl aged 15 paid £900.

Only last night Jeremy Hunt had tried to dismiss criticism by saying there would be a "consultation".

But today Chancellor Philip Hammond announced NHS-funded abortions WILL be government policy, with extra funding for providers from the Government Equalities Office.

(Image: PA)

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who pioneered the bid, said she was "delighted". She added: "Let us send a message to women everywhere that in this Parliament their voices will be heard and their rights upheld."

Martha Spurrier, Director of Liberty, said: “This incredible victory shows what Parliament can do. By working across parties, MPs can force the Government to do the right thing."

Labour MP Ms Creasy put Theresa May in a nightmare situation when her bid was selected as a formal 'regret' amendment to the Queen's Speech today.

(Image: Leon Neal)

Defeat would have been humiliating for the Prime Minister.

A Queen's Speech has only been amended using a 'regret' motion twice since the 1850s, according to the independent House of Commons Library.

And accepting the amendment risked angering the anti-abortion DUP days after Mrs May paid £1billion for their backing.

But with pressure on the Prime Minister from her own side and a fragile working majority of just 13, she was forced to accept Ms Creasy's demands.

(Image: Getty)

Mrs May missed a crunch meeting with G20 world leaders in Berlin to fly home and make the vote in time.

But in the end Ms Creasy withdrew her formal amendment, meaning the decision will not go down legally as a government defeat.

The decision will not change the highly controversial abortion law in Northern Ireland.

(Image: PA)

Pushing for the move, Tory former Culture Secretary Maria Miller said it was "wrong" to deny Northern Irish women the right to NHS-funded abortions in England.

And Tory Commons leader Andrea Leadsom revealed urgent talks were under way at the Department of Health.

She told MPs this morning, before the announcement: "It is my personal view that every woman should have the right to decide what happens to her own body, that is very clear.

"It is a question of devolution and the fact that health is devolved to Northern Ireland and therefore it’s the question of who should pay for it.

"The Department for Equalities and the Department of Health are discussing and looking very closely at this issue today."

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The Supreme Court narrowly upheld the government's policy this month - saying while Jeremy Hunt could change it, he was "entitled" not to.

The Health Secretary was accused of "inventing" a consultation last night to deflect from the row.

It was thought Jeremy Hunt may have been talking about a consultation on the law in Northern Ireland.

But the DUP made clear the decision is one for England - not Stormont.

DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr told the House of Commons: "This is not a matter for Belfast; it is a matter for NHS England."

The votes came ahead of a final vote to pass the Queen's Speech - cementing the government's place for now - at 5.45pm.

In the first vote of the night, Labour failed 323-297 to pass its own version of the Queen's Speech into law.

Jeremy Corbyn's amendment had promised to end austerity, pursue a "jobs-first Brexit " and clamp down on tax avoiders.

A separate amendment by Labour's Chuka Umunna fought a so-called Hard Brexit - but despite some Tory support, was also destined to fail because Labour MPs were whipped not to vote on it.

Six Labour frontbenchers rebelled and at least one quit.

Tory Business Secretary Greg Clark rounded off a week of debate saying the parliament would see a "battle for ideas and values".

He slammed Labour's "determination to create in Britain a Socialist state" that he said would cause lower wages, higher prices and lower pensions.

"This is not a prosperity for the many or the few, but for no one," he said.

But Labour's Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said of the Tories: "As they precariously hang on to government by their tips of their fingernails, they are quite simply standing in the way of a fairer, richer Britain."</s>The Government intends to fund abortions in England for women arriving from Northern Ireland, Chancellor Philip Hammond has said.

His announcement follows a proposed amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for the Government to ensure adequate funding to allow women from Northern Ireland to have abortions in England without being charged.

Mr Hammond said the issue of abortion was "a matter of great importance" and that the Minister for Women and Equalities would be making an announcement "by way of a letter to members of this House explaining that she intends to intervene to fund abortions in England for women arriving here from Northern Ireland".

He said he hoped the House would find it a "sensible way of dealing with this challenge".

Also read

Commons Speaker John Bercow confirmed he has selected the amendment to the Government's legislative programme, meaning MPs will have a chance to vote on it at the conclusion of the Queen's Speech debate.

The Government was under pressure to look at the issue after Labour MP Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) tabled the amendment, which has cross-party support.

Sir Peter Bottomley, who backed the amendment, asked Mr Hammond whether "only the poor" women of Northern Ireland "should be denied lawful abortions".

Mr Hammond said: "I know this is a matter of great importance to members on both sides of the House and an issue which I know my colleagues on the Treasury bench have been looking for a solution to.

"My understanding is that my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister for Women and Equalities, either has made, or is just about to make, an announcement by way of a letter to members of this House explaining that she intends to intervene to fund abortions in England for women arriving here from Northern Ireland."

Ms Creasy wrote on Twitter after the announcement: "Woah - Chancellor just told house going 2 fund abortions 4 NI women in England. No detail as yet so asking for clarity.. #MyPledgeHerChoice".

Ms Creasy said: "The figure of £1,400 is what Northern Irish women were having to spend to get an abortion here in England and therefore it is welcome that the Government is now saying that they will correct this injustice.

"However, you will know, as everyone knows, the devil will be in the detail.

"So can I ask you if you will make a commitment on behalf of this Government to meet with myself and representatives of organisations like Marie Stopes and BPAS and the London Irish Abortion Campaign to look at how we can turn this into a reality so that those women in Northern Ireland today who have finally had their voices heard can use their services as soon as possible?"

Mr Hammond replied: "We will be funding her (Justine Greening's) department with additional funding so that she can make a grant to the external organisations who will provide these services.

"I think you will be satisfied when you have read the letter and understand the detail."

In a copy of the letter tweeted by SNP MP Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central), Ms Greening wrote: "At present women from Northern Ireland are asked for payment, and from now on it is our proposal that this will no longer happen.

"This is clearly a sensitive issue and one which has direct implications for equality in treatment of women from Northern Ireland.

"Following discussions with the Department of Health, we will ensure these payments will be funded through the Government Equalities Office with additional funding.

"This will mean no English health service user is disadvantaged as a result of this change."

She added: "The Supreme Court judgment made clear that we have the power to make these arrangements.

"The Government's position continues to be that we want to see safe abortion services provided for women who may need them - within the bounds of the law.

"None of this changes the fundamental position that this is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly to decide on their policy going forward. This announcement does not change that position."</s>The government’s announcement came before a vote on the issue in Parliament, on an amendment forced by Stella Creasy, a lawmaker for the opposition Labour Party, and amid signs that some of Mrs. May’s Conservative Party legislators might rebel, putting her parliamentary majority in doubt.

The concession underlines the precariousness of the government’s position, and its vulnerability to political ambush in Parliament, where it now runs the constant risk of losing votes after Mrs. May lost her majority in recent elections.

On Thursday, the former chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, who was fired last year by Mrs. May and is now a newspaper editor, posted on Twitter his front page headline “Abortion vote chaos hits May” and adding as a commentary:

Conservative worries about the ability to win votes in Parliament were displayed on Wednesday when the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, was summoned from Switzerland to vote on the Queen’s Speech, which outlines the government’s legislative program. On Thursday, Mrs. May was expected to leave discussions in Berlin early to ensure that she could attend the final vote on the Queen’s Speech, which the government was expected to win with the help of the largely Protestant Democratic Unionist Party, or D.U.P.

But their support has come with a political — as well as financial — price. Critics have denounced the deal with the D.U.P. as “shoddy” or “grubby,” because it was secured with a pledge of around $2 billion in additional spending for Northern Ireland. Scottish and Welsh politicians are particularly resentful, believing that their constituents should also have similar protection from budget cuts, but even some Conservative lawmakers are unhappy.

“I can barely put into words my anger at the deal my party has done with the D.U.P.,” Heidi Allen, a Conservative legislator, said in Parliament.

Others have suggested that because of its reliance on the D.U.P., the British government will no longer be able to act as an honest broker in trying to secure a power-sharing agreement among the political parties in Northern Ireland. Negotiations on that issue were expected to be extended on Thursday, despite the lack of agreement when the latest deadline expired in midafternoon.

Under the deal with the Conservatives at Westminster, the D.U.P. guaranteed its support for Mrs. May’s party on crucial confidence and finance votes, and on the issue of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, effectively keeping the government from falling.

Both the Conservative Party and the D.U.P. emphasize that they have not formed a coalition, and that their arrangement in Parliament falls short of a deal on a full policy program. As such, the decision to fund abortions does not breach any part of the accord.

The government concession was announced by the chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, who was asked by a Conservative lawmaker, Peter Bottomley, why, in the case of women from Northern Ireland, “only the poor should be denied lawful abortions.”

Mr. Hammond replied that Justine Greening, the minister for women and equalities, was in the process of announcing by letter “that she intends to intervene to fund abortions in England for women arriving here from Northern Ireland.”

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, an organization that supports abortion rights, described the change as a “landmark moment,” but, in a statement added, “Clearly this is not the solution to the gross injustice whereby women in Northern Ireland are denied access to abortion care at home, and we look forward to seeing progress on that front.”

Jo Swinson, a lawmaker from the centrist Liberal Democrats who supported the amendment on abortion, said the government’s decision showed “the power of cross-party pressure.” She added that it was “embarrassing that the health secretary had done nothing on this so far and only the threat of a defeat prompted change.”</s>The move came hours before lawmakers were due to vote on the issue as an amendment to the Queen's Speech -- which sets out the government's legislative program.

The amendment had sought to ensure that women in Northern Ireland seeking abortions in other parts of the UK would have them paid for by the National Health Service.

Currently, women in Northern Ireland who want an abortion must travel to England, Wales or Scotland for treatment and pay for the procedure despite paying UK taxes, which contribute to the NHS.

Abortion is illegal in almost all cases in Northern Ireland unless there is a direct threat to the mother's life.

Labour lawmaker Stella Creasy, who proposed the amendment, had gathered widespread support in the House of Commons, with members of different parties, including Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives, signing up to it. Speaking in the House of Commons, Creasy said she was withdrawing her amendment after receiving assurances from the government. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond made the announcement on abortion funding. Labour lawmaker Stella Creasy tabled an amendment on abortion funding after the government's move. In a letter to colleagues, Justine Greening, the minister for women and equalities, outlined plans for funding to be made available as a direct response of the amendment. Creasy's proposal had asked the government to ensure "the provision of adequate funding and guidance so that all UK citizens including those from Northern Ireland may access medical services including abortion procedures in England if they so wish without charge." A vote on the amendment would have been the first serious test of May's deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party , which fiercely opposes abortion. Two other amendments to the Queen's Speech were both defeated Thursday. On Wednesday, the government narrowly defeated an amendment to scrap a pay cap for public sector workers by 14 votes. May is heavily dependent on the DUP, which agreed to prop up her minority government after a deal reached this week. Woah - chancellor just told house going 2 fund abortions 4 NI women in England. No detail as yet so asking for clarity.. #MyPledgeHerChoice — stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) June 29, 2017 Under the agreement, the DUP's 10 lawmakers will support May's minority government over the Queen's Speech as well as bills relating to national security and Brexit. In return, the UK government has pledged an extra £1 billion ($1.2bn) investment over the next two years in addition to the £500 million ($600 million) it had already committed. Critics of the deal have wondered whether it would leave the women of Northern Ireland without the chance of overturning existing legislation surrounding abortion given May's tenuous hold on power. The 10 people who can make or break Brexit Just last month, the UK Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a mother and daughter over the rights of women in Northern Ireland to receive free abortions on the NHS in England. The move comes on the same day as a ruling from Northern Ireland's highest court that changes to abortion laws should be made by Northern Ireland's Stormont Assembly rather than the courts. Belfast's Court of Appeal was asked to decide whether to uphold two high court rulings made in 2015 and 2016 that the existing laws breached a woman's right to privacy under European law. The case is now expected to move to the UK Supreme Court.</s>The English NHS will provide free abortions for women visiting from Northern Ireland, the Government has announced.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the policy change in the House of Commons after Labour proposed an amendment to the Queen's Speech that would have forced the change.

The amendment, proposed by MP Stella Creasy, was picked for a vote later today – and was expected to be backed by some Tory backbenchers.

Many hundreds of Northern Irish women make the journey across the Irish Sea to Great Britain to have abortions because of the province's restrictive laws.

There, terminations are illegal in almost all cases, even when a woman has been impregnated through rape or incest.

The forced move is likely to annoy the Conservatives' newfound allies in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who are staunchly anti-abortion on religious grounds.

But the Tories minority government status means that even with DUP votes the Government is vulnerable to rebellions by just seven of its own MPs if opposition parties gang up against it.

The latest episode could be a prelude of the difficulties that Conservative whips will face passing legislation in the coming parliament – a hurdle reflected in last week's threadbare Queen's Speech, which was stripped of most major Tory manifesto promises.

More than 100 MPs backed the amendment tabled by Ms Creasy demanding that Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, acts.

UK taxpayers are currently being denied access to abortion services in England and Wales, which is a matter for English and Welsh MPs to decide,” Ms Creasy told The Independent.

Women from Northern Ireland – where abortion is illegal, except in very rare circumstances – typically pay £1,400 for a private termination in England, Scotland or Wales.

Official figures show 726 Northern Irish women paid for the operation last year, but the true figure is thought to be higher, because others gave a false address on this side of the Irish Sea.

Equalities Secretary Justine Greening said this afternoon that the move would be funded from the Government Equalities Office so that "no English health service user is disadvantaged as a result of the change".

The Health Secretary had previously said a “consultation” about scrapping the charges was underway but there was confusion after Department of Health officials played down Mr Hunt’s claimed.

In the Commons, former Conservative Cabinet minister Maria Miller signalled her support for the amendment when she labelled the current access to abortion in Northern Ireland as “wrong”.

“The High Court has ruled this law contravenes human rights law - which is a responsibility of the UK Government, not a devolved matter,” Ms Miller said.

In reply, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said it was “an incredibly sensitive and important issue” which the Government was “discussing and looking very closely at”.

Under the terms of confidence and supply agreement, the DUP must vote in favour of the Queen's Speech, even if abortion amendment is passed.

However, it does not appear to be a deal breaker for the Northern Ireland party. One of its MPs, Ian Paisley Jnr, agreed whether to provide free terminations was a matter for Westminster.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Northern Irish women are not entitled to receive free abortions in England.

However, two of the justices said the current situation, nonetheless, breaches women’s rights – piling pressure on the Government to act.</s>While the National Health Service provides free abortions to women in most of the United Kingdom, abortion is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a serious risk to her health.

Finance minister Philip Hammond told parliament the government would "fund abortions in England for women arriving here from Northern Ireland".

Women's rights groups estimate around 1,000 women travel to Britain each year for terminations, which they must finance themselves along with travel and other costs.

Justine Greening, Britain's minister for women and equalities, said the government was committed to providing safe abortions.

"This is clearly a sensitive issue and one which has direct implications for equality in treatment of women from Northern Ireland," Greening wrote in a letter to parliamentarians.

Clinics in England charge around 600 pounds ($779) to terminate pregnancies of less than 14 weeks and up to 2,000 pounds for more advanced pregnancies.

Earlier this month, Britain's highest court rejected an appeal by a mother and daughter in their legal battle for women from Northern Ireland to receive free abortions in England.

Political parties in Northern Ireland are divided on abortion.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which struck a billion-pound deal in return for its support for British Prime Minister May's minority government, is among the most socially conservative in Europe and opposes widespread access to abortion.</s>Funding to be made available through the Government Equalities Office

Women from Northern Ireland will no longer have to pay for abortions in England after the UK government announced it will fund the service.

The chancellor, Phillip Hammond, told the House of Commons about the decision, which was immediately confirmed in a letter sent to all MPs from women and equalities minister and education secretary Justine Greening.

‘At present women from Northern Ireland are asked for payment, and from now on it is our proposal that this will no longer happen,’ the letter read. ‘This is clearly a sensitive issue and one which has direct implications for equality in treatment of women from Northern Ireland.

‘Following discussions with the Department of Health, we will ensure these payments will be funded through the Government Equalities Office with additional funding. This will mean no English health service user is disadvantaged as a result of this change.

‘Funding for the services will be made available through the Government Equalities Office, allowing the Department of Health to commission abortion services in England for those from Northern Ireland.’

Labour MP Stella Creasy had tabled an amendment supporting NI women having free abortions in England, which usually cost around £900 on a private basis, and was backed by more than 100 MPs across the Commons. The issue was due to be voted on as part of a debate on the Queen’s Speech before the government’s climbdown.

Abortion is legal in Britain under the Abortion Act 1967 but it is still a criminal offence in NI where terminations of pregnancy are only permitted if a woman’s life is at risk, or there is a serious risk to her mental or physical health. It is not an offence for NI women to obtain abortions in Britain.

The NHS in England is entitled not to provide the abortion service to women ordinarily resident in NI free of charge given the UK’s devolved scheme for health services. This was confirmed by the Supreme Court two weeks ago in a ‘sharply divided’ ruling.

The Scottish government had, however, been looking into the possibility of offering NI women NHS terminations, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon keen to promote the rights of women to choose.

Writing in this week’s Solicitors Journal, Kings Chambers barrister Anna Macey predicted that, with the Democratic Unionist Party’s role in supporting the Tory government, it was unlikely that the issue of abortion funding would be out of the news for long.</s>The British government has announced it will fund abortions in England for women arriving from Northern Ireland in a concession to see off a bid to amend the Queen's Speech.

Ministers were facing a headache over an amendment tabled by Labour MP Stella Creasy, calling on the British government to provide funding so women from Northern Ireland can have abortions in England without having to pay.

It had the formal backing of one Tory MP, Peter Bottomley, while others expressed concerns over the issue, as abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

The government's move, announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in the Commons, will be expected to satisfy Tory MPs enough to ensure that Ms Creasy's amendment does not pass, or she withdraws it.

Reacting to the news, the Labour MP tweeted: "Sisters in Northern Ireland we will hear your voices - have asked for speedy meeting with govt to make this a reality!"

She added: "Thank you to MPs on all sides who supported call for change to help northern Irish women have equal access to abortion."

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) did not respond to immediate requests for reaction, but the prospect of the amendment passing could have raised questions over its deal with the Tories to prop up the minority Government.

In that situation, the anti-abortion DUP would have been asked to vote for an amended Queen's Speech which would explicitly state that women from Northern Ireland could get free abortions in England.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn is facing a potential rebellion from Labour MPs lining up to back an amendment tabled by former shadow cabinet minister Chuka Umunna on Brexit.

A total of 43 Labour MPs have formally signed up to Mr Umunna's amendment, which supports continued membership of the single market and customs union.

But Labour's official policy is to leave the single market in order to end the free movement of European Union citizens, while aiming to retain the "exact same benefits" of the trade bloc.

Mr Corbyn has ordered his MPs to abstain on Mr Umunna's amendment, raising the prospect of a rebellion which will expose Labour splits on Brexit.</s>The Government has announced it will fund abortions in England for women arriving from Northern Ireland in a concession to see off a bid to amend the Queen's Speech.

Ministers were facing a headache over an amendment tabled by Labour MP Stella Creasy, calling on the Government to provide funding so women from Northern Ireland can have abortions in England without having to pay.

It had the formal backing of one Tory MP, Sir Peter Bottomley, while others expressed concerns over the issue, as abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

The Government's move, announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in the Commons, will be expected to satisfy Tory MPs enough to ensure that Ms Creasy's amendment does not pass, or she withdraws it.

Reacting to the news, the Labour MP tweeted: "Sisters in Northern Ireland we will hear your voices - have asked for speedy meeting with govt to make this a reality!"

She added: "Thank you to MPs on all sides who supported call for change to help northern Irish women have equal access to abortion."

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) did not respond to immediate requests for reaction, but the prospect of the amendment passing could have raised questions over its deal with the Tories to prop up the minority Government.

In that situation, the anti-abortion DUP would have been asked to vote for an amended Queen's Speech which would explicitly state that women from Northern Ireland could get free abortions in England.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn is facing a potential rebellion from Labour MPs lining up to back an amendment tabled by former shadow cabinet minister Chuka Umunna on Brexit.

A total of 43 Labour MPs have formally signed up to Mr Umunna's amendment, which supports continued membership of the single market and customs union.

But Labour's official policy is to leave the single market in order to end the free movement of European Union citizens, while aiming to retain the "exact same benefits" of the trade bloc.

Mr Corbyn has ordered his MPs to abstain on Mr Umunna's amendment, raising the prospect of a rebellion which will expose Labour splits on Brexit.

Tory MP Sir Peter said the Government has met the point of Ms Creasy's amendment.

He said: "(The) Government has rightly announced that there is a practical solution to the dilemma of poorer Northern Irish women funding a lawful termination in England.

"The practical solution of the Equalities Office and health commissioning and funding abortion services will bring justice, as indicated by the judges in the Supreme Court judgment.

"Many Conservatives, including senior women, have worked with Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow and her supporters with the specialist charities to achieve this fast progress."

Tory MP Sir Peter said the Government has met the point of Ms Creasy's amendment.

He said: "(The) Government has rightly announced that there is a practical solution to the dilemma of poorer Northern Irish women funding a lawful termination in England.

"The practical solution of the Equalities Office and health commissioning and funding abortion services will bring justice, as indicated by the judges in the Supreme Court judgment.

"Many Conservatives, including senior women, have worked with Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow and her supporters with the specialist charities to achieve this fast progress."</s>Charities have welcomed the Government's decision to fund abortions in England for women arriving from Northern Ireland as a "landmark moment".

Chancellor Philip Hammond made the announcement as pressure mounted on the Government and its wafer-thin majority, which is reliant on the support of the anti-abortion Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The move looks to have seen off the threat of Tory MPs helping to pass an amendment by Labour's Stella Creasy to the Queen's Speech, which would have put the Northern Irish DUP in an awkward position in the final Commons vote on the Government's legislative programme.

Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

Reacting to the news a spokeswoman from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Government has committed to funding abortion care for women who travel from Northern Ireland to England.

"This is a landmark moment: for years the women of Northern Ireland, despite being UK citizens and taxpayers, have not been entitled to NHS-funded treatment.

"Clearly this is not the solution to the gross injustice whereby women in Northern Ireland are denied access to abortion care at home, and we look forward to seeing progress on that front. Nevertheless this is an important moment, and we commend all those who have worked so hard to make this happen."

A spokesman for abortion provider Marie Stopes UK said: "Any action on the situation facing women seeking abortion in Northern Ireland is both welcome and long overdue. As UK taxpayers, women in Northern Ireland should be fully entitled to access NHS treatment free at the point of care, including abortion services.

"This is a hugely positive step forward, but there is no reason why these services shouldn't be provided in Northern Ireland, saving thousands of women each year the cost and stress of travelling to the mainland. Until that becomes reality, we look forward to working closely with Government to ensure women travelling from Northern Ireland receive the equitable NHS treatment they deserve."
After six days of debate, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom votes to approve, with 323 votes for and 309 against, the policies set out in the Queen's Speech. In order to avoid a 'regret' amendment, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond says that England's National Health Service is to provide free abortions to women from Northern Ireland with funds from the Government Equalities Office.