Following the debate yesterday, the Minister agreed to all I had asked for, subject to a consultation. Some may ask why then did I go for the vote? It was a tough call. As the Minister wound up offering  to introduce the aims and objectives of the amendment via secondary legislation, many members on my side either abstained, or voted against the due to the difficult situation we had been put in by the Liberal Democrats. Some obviously disagreed, but politics yesterday was certainly at its dirtiest and most complex. I would never have thought that the Liberal Democrats would have applied so much pressure to prevent women having greater choice.

From now on, a spotlight shines on pre abortion counselling. Marie Stopes has already pledged its commitment to  excellent counselling for all women. We lost the vote, but got what we wanted. We lost the battle, but won the war.

A moving blog today on Labour List.

http://www.labourlist.org/abortion-a-mans-perspective

Newsnight last night

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014kjnr/Newsnight_07_09_2011/

Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2034873/Abortion-reform-Nadine-Dorries-taste-almond-poison-public-mirth.html?ito=feeds-newsxml