Northern Ireland

More than half the population in Northern Ireland do not support forthcoming Westminster abortion changes, new survey finds

Just over half of those surveyed said they do not support forthcoming Westminster abortion changes. A survey carried out by LucidTalk found that 57 per cent of people in the north oppose a change to the law, due to come into effect on October 21, which will decriminalise abortion. Picture: Bill Smyth
Just over half of those surveyed said they do not support forthcoming Westminster abortion changes. A survey carried out by LucidTalk found that 57 per cent of people in the north oppose a change to the law, due to come into effect on October 21, which wi Just over half of those surveyed said they do not support forthcoming Westminster abortion changes. A survey carried out by LucidTalk found that 57 per cent of people in the north oppose a change to the law, due to come into effect on October 21, which will decriminalise abortion. Picture: Bill Smyth

MORE than half the population in Northern Ireland do not support forthcoming Westminster abortion changes, according to a survey.

The poll conducted by Belfast research group LucidTalk examined 1,424 responses, weighted to represent NI society, to a survey conducted over three days at the end of September.

The survey asked those participating: `Do you support the changes voted for at Westminster that will impose a new abortion regime in Northern Ireland?'

It found that 57 per cent of people of respondents said they oppose a change to the law, due to come into effect on October 21, which will decriminalise abortion.

Fifty-one per cent of women and 53 per cent of men said they were against the changes.

In addition, 54 per cent of 18-24 year-olds and 63 per cent of the 65+ age group were also not in favour of the law imposed by Westminster.

Almost two in 10 of DUP supporters were against the move. It was almost a reverse of Alliance supporters with 67 per cent supporting the move.

Elsewhere 52 per cent of Sinn Féin and 31 per cent of SDLP supporters back the change. For the UUP it was 53 per cent against while 80 per cent of Green Party supporters backed the change.

Dawn McAvoy, a spokeswoman for the Both Lives Matter campaign, said the message in Northern Ireland "could not be clearer".

"The majority of people of Northern Ireland do not want these changes, no Northern Ireland MP voted in favour of the abortion amendment proposing these changes and the majority of councils in Northern Ireland have now voted against these changes," she said.

"As the 21st October approaches, the public is realising just how bad the law imposed by Westminster is. Northern Ireland will be left without proper regulation for months putting mothers and unborn babies at risk - it is bad for both".