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Rebecca Long-Bailey 'Personally' Supported Stricter Abortion Rules

Labour leadership candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey has supported stricter limits on abortion.

Long-Bailey told Catholic priests during the election campaign she would make sure their “views are heard” when it came to any changes to the law.

Under current rules it is possible to have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy.

But there is no time limit on when an abortion may take place if there is evidence of a fatal foetal abnormality or a significant risk to the life of the mother if she continues with the pregnancy.

Long-Bailey said: “It is currently legal to terminate a pregnancy up to full-term on the grounds of disability while the upper limit is 24 weeks if there is no disability. I personally do not agree with this position.”

The shadow business secretary said she agreed with the Disability Rights Commission that “the context in which parents choose whether to have a child should be one in which disability and non-disability are valued equally.”

Long-Bailey, who is Catholic, was answering a series of questions put to parliamentary candidates in Manchester by priests at Salford cathedral. Her comments were first reported on Thursday by Red Roar.

But spokesperson for Long-Bailey said Red Roar had highlighted her comments “to propagate a misleading narrative”.

“Rebecca unequivocally supports a woman’s right to choose and has only ever voted in favour of extending the right to abortion, such as in Northern Ireland.

“These responses have been selectively quoted by the fake news peddlers at the Red Roar to propagate a misleading narrative.

“Rebecca’s response to the Deanery of Salford clarified the existing law and current Labour policy, stating that abortion procedures should be properly regulated, and that women’s reproductive rights and the decriminalisation of abortion should be maintained.

“Rebecca’s response was also a reflection of her own personal agreement with the Disability Rights Commission — that ”the context in...

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