Here's an interesting Early Day Motion [1]. Entitled 'REVIEW OF ABORTION LEGISLATION', it "endorses Recommendation 77 of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee, Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law; and calls on the Government to set up a joint committee of both Houses to consider the scientific, medical and social changes in relation to abortion that have taken place since 1967, with a view to presenting options for new legislation."

Now, what do you think could be the agenda behind this? "Scientific, medical and social changes" are a common pretext of anti-abortionists to argue for a cut in the time limit for abortions [2], a move that would have a devastating effect on some of the most vulnerable women [3] (link is to a PDF). The arguments for women's choice, however, and for extending rather than cutting the current, 24-week time limit, are not dependent on those changes, but on a timeless principle of women's control over our own bodies.

I'd love to see a 'review' of abortion legislation that would, for example, remove the requirement for two doctors' signatures and introduce 'self-referral' ie. abortion on request, in at least the first trimester of pregnancy. But that is not the 'review' that this EDM is after, which is why Abortion Rights [4] is campaigning against it. Its movers clearly want a 'review' to cut the time limit: the EDM is proposed by Geraldine Smith, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary 'Pro-life' group which is opposed to all abortion. Its signatories include notorious anti-abortionist Ann Widdecombe.

And George Galloway.

SWP members, and anyone else in Respect who considers yourself a socialist: How much more of this crap are you prepared to put up with?

Hat tip to Chris [5]