Northern Ireland

Call again to reform NI abortion laws after further changes announced in England

Shadow secretary of state Tony Lloyd
Shadow secretary of state Tony Lloyd Shadow secretary of state Tony Lloyd

NORTHERN Ireland's "draconian" abortion laws must be changed to allow women to access termination drugs in the same way as in Britain, Labour has said.

Shadow secretary of state Tony Lloyd called on the government to take action after it was announced that new rules in England will allow women to take the second 'abortion pill' at home.

Under the current system, women are required to take both pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, 24-48 hours apart in a clinic to end an early pregnancy before 10 weeks' gestation.

Scotland and Wales already allow women to take the second pill at home.

The British government said it will legalise home-use by the end of the year in a move welcomed by campaigners - but condemned by anti-abortion groups.

A referendum recently also backed liberalising strict legislation on abortion in the Republic.

But despite the lack of a Stormont assembly, the British government has so far insisted legislation remains a devolved matter.