Over the weekend I have had feedback from people who canvassed in Crewe and Nantwich. Apparently - and this is only what I have been told - the abortion vote played a part in the last few days.

Crewe has a very large Irish Catholic population as a result of the historic railway building programme.

Wilted Rose has a very good blog on it .

If this information is correct, then the impact could play out in many other seats.

I have been contacted by Muslim faith leaders who were horrified at the vote.

During my meetings with the Muslim and Jewish faiths as part of my research into abortion, I discovered that the positions taken are similar to the Catholic viewpoint - which is more prescriptive than mine. (The Church of England amazingly have no official position on the embryo!).

Take a seat like Bedford which comprises a community of Italian, Muslim and Irish residents and the Bedford MP who voted to maintain 24 weeks.

Could be fair comment to make that the people of Bedford may vote with their beliefs and the Bedford MP could be toast!

And just before anyone takes a sharp intake of breath and thinks that maybe I am making abortion a political issue – may I just remind people that it was Harriett Harman and Gordon Brown who did that by whipping the vote.

The Mail On Sunday - 25th May 2008 - How Harriet Hardwoman Whipped Wavering Abortion Votes. 

Archbishop Cranmer - Why Christians Should Think Thrice Before Voting Labour.