MPs back abortion and same-sex marriage for Northern Ireland

Equality campaigners celebrate as amendments are passed in Westminster

House of Commons
(Image credit: Getty)

Westminster MPs have voted overwhelmingly to extend same-sex marriage and access to abortion to Northern Ireland.

The devolved Northern Ireland government at Stormont collapsed in 2017, and repeated talks have failed to repair the breach. Under the amendments approved by the Commons, the changes will come into effect if a new power-sharing executive has not been created by 21 October, the date by which Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley must call a new election.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up