Abortion reform is unlikely to become law in time for Tynwald Day, the MHK behind the bill has conceded.

Last week the House of Keys passed the Abortion Reform Bill. It now needs to go through Legislative Council, but the necessity to produce a clean copy version of the bill, following a number of amendments, means it is not ready for a first reading in the upper chamber today (Tuesday).

That, in turn, makes it doubtful the bill can attain royal assent in time for what would be a hugely symbolic moment on Tynwald Day - one year since the red-caped Handmaids Isle of Man made their stunning, silent protest.

After July 5, there is one final sitting of Tynwald before the summer recess, but it remains a long-shot the bill can be scrutinised and signed off before the break.

Dr Allinson admitted that a Tynwald Day promulgation was unlikely.

’I would have liked that, partly for the symbolism of it, but I don’t think that is going to happen. I don’t think it will be ready by Tynwald Day,’ Dr Allinson said

’It might not be ready for royal assent until October, which I am sorry about.’

He said he was conscious of the number of women who might have to go off-island for an abortion in the time before a law change.

In the House of Keys last week, Douglas East MHK Clare Bettison said that in the 461 days since leave was granted for Dr Allinson to bring forward his bill, 170 women would have had to seek a termination in another jurisdiction or induce an abortion by unsafe methods.

Under the bill, abortion would be permitted upon request up to 14 weeks, under specified circumstances during the 15-24-week period, and in certain emergency situations after 24 weeks. Provision has also been added to create ’access zones’ around medical centres to protect women and medics from harassment.

The bill has to be tight enough to ensure that there is nothing that could prevent royal assent

’Unfortunately, this bill has taken a long time,’ he said. ’What I would like to say is during that time we have got almost overwhelming support.’

He said the 22-2 vote in favour of the third reading in the House of Keys - meaning the bill had completed its scrutiny of the elected chamber - was better than he had hoped for initially.

Dr Allinson said he did not expect there to be any unnecessary delay by Legislative Council, but he acknowledged that the scrutiny could not be rushed. It will be first considered on May 22, when Bill Henderson will be tasked with guiding it on the final leg of its journey.

’Theoretically, Legislative Council could send it to committee,’ he said. ’They could start taking new evidence.

’A lot of that has been done by the House of Keys and I don’t see any part of the bill that is fundamentally wrong, flawed or questionable.

’We are talking about some complicated legal terms, in terms of how it interacts with legislation, but that is what Legislative Council is all about.’

The next stage has even lead to the re-opening of the debate on the role of MLCs.

Dr Allinson emphasised he had ’trust’ in MLCs to act properly. He added: ’The Legislative Council we have got is in a process of defining itself and I see this bill and the way they treat it and the way they scrutinise it as a useful tool.

’They have a different role. They are here to scrutinise, analyse and if necessary, correct it - but their role is not to reopen some of the expansive debates that have already taken place.’