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A majority of women are opposed to making abortion easier by requiring the approval of only one doctor instead of two, a new poll reveals.
Three quarters of women would also block moves to allow nurses to perform abortions without doctors present.
Since abortion was legalised in 1967, nearly six million terminations have been carried out - 200,000 in the last year alone. The debate over abortion has recently been re-opened in light of the Human Tissues and Embryos Bill. Campaign groups on both sides of the debate hope to use the Bill as an opportunity to change the law on abortion for better or for worse.
Except for reason of 'serious handicap' or risk of life to the mother, abortions are only lawful up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Seven in ten women surveyed would like to see that time halved and 90 per cent think doctors ought to guide women considering a termination towards other alternatives before approving the procedure.
Labour MP, Jim Dobbin, chairs the all-party parliamentary pro-life group. He said, "It is significant that an opinion poll commissioned in the run up to the 40th anniversary shows that, rather than becoming desensitised, the public are becoming increasingly concerned about abortion."
