Abortion: right-wing roadshow rumbles towards Cardiff

If someone made a film called “Ann Widdecombe - Passion for Life” you’d no doubt assume it was a comedy. But there is nothing funny about the Passion for Life roadshow which is heading for Cardiff on March 4th 2008. Widdecombe and her cronies from an unholy alliance of anti-abortion groups aim to set the clock back to the time when women had no rights over their own bodies.

The Passion for Life tour has been inspired by the HFE (human fertilisation and embryology) bill currently going through parliament, which updates legislation for assisted reproduction and the regulation of the use of embryos in research and therapy. Though the bill is not specifically concerned with abortion, it has been subject to a number of right-wing amendments which aim to further weaken the provisions of the 1967 Abortion Act.

No-one should be in any doubt about the ultimate aim of Widdecombe, the Christian Medical Fellowship, Life, Care and the Right to Life Trust. It is the criminalisation of abortion. And if anyone wants to know the consequences of that, just ask the women of Northern Ireland, where abortion has never been legalised.

The hypocrisy of the anti-abortion lobbyists is staggering. If they really want to cut down the number of abortions, why are they opposed to contraception? Why are they opposed to sex education in schools? Answer: because they still hold to the medieval belief that sex itself is the enemy, and that sexual relationships should be only take place within the jurisdiction of priests, judges and politicians.

Permanent Revolution uncompromisingly support a woman’s right to choose in the matter of abortion. We believe the battle against Widdecombe and her ilk should not merely be a defensive one. We stand for the following:

* For a woman’s right to choose
* No to the time limit - as early as possible, as late as necessary
* End the need for doctors’ permission
* Allow appropriately trained nurses to perform medical and early surgical abortions
* End the restriction on where abortion can take place
* NHS funding to ensure full and free access to abortion for all
* for an expansion of sex education, contraceptive services and condom provision

We call on all those opposed to the anti-abortion crusade to unite to picket Widdecombe’s Cardiff meeting: the picket begins at 6.30pm at the City Temple, Cowbridge Rd East.

Wed 27, February 2008 @ 12:06