Politics

Alban Maginness: No challenge to SDLP abortion stance

Former MLA Alban Maginness was among a group of pro-life SDLP members who met in Belfast on Monday. Picture by Hugh Russell
Former MLA Alban Maginness was among a group of pro-life SDLP members who met in Belfast on Monday. Picture by Hugh Russell Former MLA Alban Maginness was among a group of pro-life SDLP members who met in Belfast on Monday. Picture by Hugh Russell

A veteran pro-life SDLP member has insisted there are no moves afoot to challenge the party's decision to allow conscience votes on abortion.

Former North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness was speaking after dozens of pro-life SDLP members met in Belfast on Monday night.

Those who attended the meeting in the Wellington Park hotel, where a presentation was given by anti-abortion group Both Lives Matter, included former leader Alasdair McDonnell and one-time West Belfast MP Joe Hendron.

One senior SDLP source told The Irish News there was concern that the group of party members would seek to reverse last month's decision to adopt a conscience vote policy on issues related to abortion.

In the wake of the policy being carried at a special conference, Mr McDonnell said he was "confused" by what it meant.

"I'm a little confused – I mean the SDLP has been and still is a pro-life party," he said.

Former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said he was 'confused' by the party's decision to adopt a conscience vote on abortion. Picture by Ann McManus
Former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said he was 'confused' by the party's decision to adopt a conscience vote on abortion. Picture by Ann McManus Former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said he was 'confused' by the party's decision to adopt a conscience vote on abortion. Picture by Ann McManus

But Mr Maginness said he supported voting on the basis of conscience and that those at Monday's meeting did not intend to try and reverse last month's policy shift.

"People are entitled to a conscience vote and you need to respect that," the former MLA said.

He said the SDLP remained "firmly pro-life" but there was concern among those in attendance at the Wellington Park hotel that Westminster would seek to impose abortion law reform in the north.

"People were quite alarmed by the recent campaign at Westminster for intervention on abortion law," he said.

"I believe any such move would damage the Good Friday Agreement because it would undermine the devolution settlement, which is an integral part of the agreement."

An SDLP spokeswoman said the party's special conference had agreed that members have the freedom to express their conscience on abortion.

"The SDLP take no issue with any representatives or members meeting to discuss this topic or lobby according to their conscience," she said.