Delayed delayed until the moment before publishing contents of his Bill.
The finally published only three and many of the MPs who voted that day little idea of contained.
But SPUC and Life's carefully orchestrated campaign of foetus scare stories, all of which have since been shown to be false, had clearly worried many of them. backed by the Minister of Health Dr They were urged the full Bill.
Bill Writ days standing committee.
MPs opposed to Corrie. Power It was at this slage that an entirely section was aqued giving int Secretary of State the power to lower (but not to raise) the time limit at his own discretion, by means of a 'stalutory instrument' which could pass through Majority By this point a 24-week time limit had been imposed by the 1967 vole and the grounds marginally improved. But the remeyal of subsequent clauses meant that no provision was left to allow doctors their to saye a woman's life belween 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, and abortion of a foetus on the grounds That il would became illegal altogether.
Bill second appalled by Carrie's lactics, however. The Bill had been butchered by its own sponsor in a vain attempt to hulldoze it through and onto the statule book with his name allached. Many hardened anti-abortionists now fell 1 would be better to withdraw the Bill altogether and rally their forces for next parliamentary session.
Bill dragged on through vole prevent it would Bill had been handicapped Many MPs who had yoted for the reading were more effective Bill in the discussed.
Altendance al the debates tell off grounds marginally improved: But the remoyal of subsequent clauses mesat tha no provision as left lo allow doctors to save a woman's life between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, and abortion of a foetus on the grounds that it severely handicapped became illegal altogether.
Many MPs who had voted for the second reading were appalled by Corrie's tacties, however. The Bill had been bulchered by its own sponsor in a vain altempt lo bulldoze it through and onto the slutule book with his mame allached. Many hardened anti-abortionists now fell it would he better to withdraw the Bill altogether and rally their forces for more effective Bill in the next parliamentary session.
Attendance at the debates feit off rapidly, and on the first closure vote 14 March dehale Corrie was defeated 147 votes to 140. 'This meant that MPs were not willing to push en for a third reseling and the Bill finally ran out of time on that friday, with several voting divisions left and Iwar amendments whith had not yet beet anti-abortionists had met with defeat oner axain.
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Socialist Challenge 20 March 1980 Debate