The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164256   Message #3928814
Posted By: Iains
02-Jun-18 - 06:48 PM
Thread Name: BS: The NI Battle commences
Subject: RE: BS: The NI Battle commences
"The Supreme Court is not going to rule on the generality of the abortion laws."
No. That is not part of it's remit. If it finds in favour it opens a chink that may led to further change. Westminster is unlikely to force the issue for obvious reasons. The devolved parliament is dysfunctional/nonfunctional. Perhaps a relatively neutral way forward would be to give the electorate a referendum on the matter, as in the south.
Practicalities will probably dictate we wait for a more favourable political regime. Even then there are no guarantees. Who are we to impose our will on a relatively independent entity anyway? The rest of the UK modified the law on abortion in 1967. Northen Ireland has steered her own course on the subject for over 50 years so I see no need for urgency now. Just because we see the law as unfair by no means signifies that Northern Ireland is in agreement with this view. For Westminster to impose a change in the law would rightly be perceived as unreasonable interference in their affairs. Such dabbling could stir up a hornets nest. Is that the sensible approach?