How Labour MPs fought to stop devolution of abortion law to Holyrood

Labour fought to ensure that recommendations for devolution of abortion laws were watered down in the Smith Commission amidst worries that it would lead to a more conservative time limit for terminations.

The last minute demands came after pressure from Labour MPs, who were reportedly concerned that major SNP donor Brian Souter may use his influence to encourage a more restrictive law on the issue. Souter has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the SNP since an initial £500,000 donation in 2007, gave one million pounds to the independence campaign this year, and in 2009 funded a pro-life lobbyist group to the tune of £100,000.

Concerns were raised with Ed Miliband that devolving the issue could lead to women having to travel to England in order to have an abortion. Scottish MP Gregg McClymont reportedly rang Miliband to request that the subject be made a dealbreaker in devolution negotiations, while Maria Eagle made a heated intervention during a Shadow Cabinet discussion, apparently banging her fist and saying:

“This is outrageous. What we’ve got is a bunch of men deciding on women’s rights to abortion.”

According to the Scotsman, Labour negotiators at the Smith talk, Gregg McClymont and Iain Gray, managed to successfully convince the other parties to drop their commitment to devolving abortion law after it was made clear the level of opposition to it. The final report recommends “serious consideration” be given to devolving the issue, but does not suggest outright that the power of term limits be handed over to Holyrood.