2 MPs and DoH try to change abortion rules without vote in Parliament

[muriel_volestrangler]

And it won't surprise UK DUers that it's those 2 frequent 'WTF is that bastard doing' flyers in this forum - Nadine Dorries and Frank Field, who are both anti-abortion in any form:

Abortion providers alarmed over counselling plans

Government plans for women to receive compulsory counselling 'independently' will delay treatments, charities say

Charities which provide abortions could be stripped of their ability to also counsel women, under plans being considered by the government.

Measures which would mean women must be referred to an "independent" organisation for counselling were being considered, said the Department of Health (DoH).
...
Pro-choice advocates expressed alarm at the announcement, which came after two anti-abortion MPs called for amendments to the health and social care bill that would strip abortion providers of their counselling role. There are concerns that faith-based groups with strong anti-abortion positions could step in and win contracts to provide the counselling in place of the charities.
...
A spokesman said: "The Department of Health wants women who are thinking about having an abortion to be able to have independent counselling. However, we do not believe it is necessary to set out this requirement in primary legislation as the necessary legal mechanisms already exist to enable this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/28/abortion-providers-alarm-government-proposals

It'd be bad enough if they tried to insert this in a bill; but now they seem to think they can ban any abortion provider from giving the (compulsory) counselling without actually having any kind of parliamentary vote on it. Dorries and Field are trying to get this through by saying 'independent' a lot, and implying that organisations like BPAS and Marie Stopes profit from providing abortions, so cannot be 'independent'. But they are charities, so they cannot profit.

Here's a sample letter to send to Anne Milton at the Department of Health, urging her not to do this.

Almost on principle, anything Dorries and Field are in favour of should be opposed.

[LeftishBrit]

1. Thing is...

women considering an abortion can already get counselling from independent sources, or from LIFE or any other pro-life organization if it comes to that. These MPs presenting the matter as one of 'provision' of counselling is dishonest.

This is a matter of the MPs trying to enforce their own views. It seems to me that they are aware that parliament is unlikely to vote for the draconian abortion restrictions that they'd like, so they're trying to get round by the backdoor.

In true Christian-Right style, Dorries and Field seem to have little concern about the babies once they're born. They are both economic right-wingers (Dorries always, Field increasingly in recent times) and welfare-cutters, and quick to condemn the Undeserving Poor. They oppose abortion, yet consider single parents - i.e. those who chose *not* to have abortions - as feckless and workshy.

'Almost on principle, anything Dorries and Field are in favour of should be opposed.'

That just about sums it up.