A Tory MP said he did not agree that women had “an absolute right to physical autonomy” in a debate over the US abortion ban.
Danny Kruger also said British politicians should not ‘read’ the US over the landmark ruling, which sparked nationwide protests.
Many British MPs have expressed concern after the US Supreme Court ended 50 years of constitutional abortion rights by Roe vs. Wade to overthrow.
Boris Johnson said the move, which is expected to lead to an abortion ban in about half of U.S. states, is a “step back” for women’s rights.
Mr Kruger, who represents the Devizes constituency in Wiltshire, told the Commons this afternoon that he would ‘probably disagree with his colleagues’ on the decision.
He said: ‘They think that women have an absolute right to bodily autonomy in this matter, while I think in the case of abortion that right is qualified by the fact that another body is involved.’
While MPs tried to talk about him, Mr Kruger added: ‘I will present to members who are trying to talk me out of it that this is a proper topic for political debate and my point on the front bench is I do not understand why we are reading. the United States on a judgment to return the power of decision on this political issue to the states, to democratic decision-makers, rather than leaving it in the hands of the courts. ‘
Mr Kruger is the son of Bake Off Judge Prue Leith, who opened up about a backstreet abortion when she was just 15 years old.
His remarks provoked a backlash on social media, including from Tory MPs.
Lucy Allen, Conservative MP for Telford, said: ‘I accept Danny’s right to disagree, but he has no right to impose his views on others. ‘
Stella Creasy, Labor MP, responded in the House of Commons and told him that abortion was “constitutionally a human rights issue for many of us”, adding: “Currently in the UK only women in Northern Ireland have constitutional rights on ‘ “Abortion is protected as a human right, but we can change it and that is what this place and this urgent question can do today.”
She said she wanted to submit an amendment to the forthcoming British Bill of Rights to give women the fundamental right to an abortion.
During the debate, MPs expressed concern that far-right American groups seeking to reverse British abortion protection would be given ‘renewed impetus’ by the Supreme Court ruling.
Former Labor Minister Diana Johnson has urged ministers to set up buffer zones near abortion clinics to prevent patients from being intimidated by anti-abortion activists.
She also called for reassurance about the government’s commitment to protecting women’s rights to ‘physical autonomy’.
In her speech, Secretary of State Amanda Milling said: ‘Can the Minister confirm that the government will continue to support and fund reproductive health care programs, including access to terminations around the world, in the light of this decision?
‘With far-right American groups already organizing to roll back the 1967 Abortion Act in this country, this decision will give them renewed impetus for their work.
‘So will the government look again at protecting women attending abortion clinics by establishing buffer zones, as proposed by (Rupa Huq, Labor MP for Ealing Central and Acton)?
‘And lastly, the government will reaffirm its commitment to women’s rights to access reproductive health care – including abortion – and if the government plans to change human rights legislation in the UK, that it will completely protect women’s rights to physical autonomy. ‘
Ms Milling said she shared the prime minister’s view that the Supreme Court ruling was “a big step backwards”.
She said buffer zones are a ‘matter for the Home Office and are something they keep an eye on’.
She added: ‘In view of our position on sexual reproductive health and rights, including safe abortion, the UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is a fundamental factor in the potential agency and freedom of women and girls.
“We will continue to push for strong supportive language in the UN and other international forums.”
However, Ms Milling said ministers should go further and “hold the US government accountable to the UN”.
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