Majority support decriminalising abortion in Northern Ireland, opinion polls suggest

Amnesty International says the polls are the first tests of public opinion since voters in the Republic voted to overturn its ban.

The majority of people across the UK want abortion to be decriminalised in Northern Ireland, according to the latest opinion polls.

Commissioned by Amnesty International, the surveys show 65% of adults in Northern Ireland are of the view that abortion should not be a crime, while 78% of British people support decriminalisation.

The charity says they are the first major polls of public opinion on abortion reform in Northern Ireland since voters in the Republic voted to repeal the country's ban on abortion in a referendum in May.

YouGov carried out the poll of British adults, while Northern Irish adults were questioned as part of a Cognisense Omnibus survey.

At the moment, abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal unless there are exceptional medical and/or mental health circumstances.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland campaign manager, said the polls show there is "overwhelming support" for change that the government "cannot ignore".YouGov carried out the poll of British adults, while Northern Irish adults were questioned as part of a Cognisense Omnibus survey.

At the moment, abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal unless there are exceptional medical and/or mental health circumstances.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland campaign manager, said the polls show there is "overwhelming support" for change that the government "cannot ignore".

She said: "The results show that this is not a political or contentious issue, it's fundamentally an issue of health, human rights, equality and dignity.

"Voters of all political backgrounds, including Labour, Conservative, Sinn Fein and DUP voters, are backing decriminalisation of abortion.

"The UK government cannot ignore the overwhelming support for abortion law reform.

The release of the polls comes as a Labour MP at Westminster launches a private member's bill which aims to decriminalise consensual abortion in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Diana Johnson's bill - which will be introduced in the Commons on 23 October - wants to remove sections of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act that make abortion a criminal offence.

The 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales provided for exemptions to the 1861 Act, enabling legal abortions.

"Abortion is fundamentally a women's healthcare and human rights issue," Ms Johnson said.

"The law should reflect this.

"If we don't act now, women will continue to suffer under an outdated and ineffective regime regulating abortion."