The Abortion Reform Bill has been approved by the House of Keys.

After weeks of intense debate, sometimes over just one word in Dr Alex Allinson’s draft legislation, the far-reaching bill was granted a third reading this morning (Tuesday).

It will now pass on to the Legislative Council for further scrutiny, but the political will to modernise the island’s abortion laws is now confirmed.

Two MHKs voted against the third reading - Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) and former health minister Kate Beecroft.

There was widespread praise for Dr Allinson for the way he has successfully navigated the bill, which became the most closely scrutinised piece of legislation in recent history, through the House of Keys,

But Dr Allinson himself said the fullest praise should be reserved for the women who had come forward with their own tales of how the Isle of Man’s restrictive abortion legislation had affected them and who spearheaded the campaign for change.

’It is their courage, determination and patience that I am in awe of,’ he said.

The historic vote - 22-2 in favour of the third reading - took place in front of a busy public gallery, including members of the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM), who afterwards proclaimed themselves ’thrilled’ at the development. They also urged Legislative Council members to not delay unnecessarily.

Earlier, Dr Allinson said he hoped the bill would complete its scrutiny and gain royal assent in time for Tynwald Day in July.

He also gave an assurance that the bill - including its new provision to create buffer zones around hospitals and medical centres to prevent protestors harassing patients and medics - was human rights compliant, following further discussion with the attorney general’s chambers.

But Mrs Beecroft still appeared to cast doubt on that opinion, while Mr Robertshaw said he did not feel the bill had struck the right balance.

’What we have failed to do completely and utterly is recognise that in there we had to retain some rights and protection for unborn babies and we have not done that,’ he claimed.

The bill will allow abortion upon request up to 14 weeks, and for prescribed reasons - including health, serious social concern and serious impairment - in the 15-24-week period, as well as set out the very restricted circumstances in which it could take place after 24 weeks.

Under the current Manx law, a termination is allowed in the island up to 24 weeks, but only where medical practitioners consider there is substantial risk the child will not survive birth, will die shortly afterwards or will be seriously handicapped.

Pregnancies resulting from rape, incest or sexual assault may be terminated up to 12 weeks, but women must provide an affidavit attesting to the cause of the pregnancy.

Terminations on social grounds are not permitted under the current law.

Campaigners say hundreds of women have been forced to either travel to England for a procedure or risk obtaining abortion pills via the internet, as a result of the current restrictive regime.