Pro-choice campaigners are urging the Legislative Council not to cause unnecessary delay to abortion reform.

Dr Alex Allinson’s Abortion Reform Bill was approved by the House of Keys on Tuesday.

After weeks of intense debate, sometimes over just one word in the draft legislation, the far-reaching bill was granted a third reading.

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

The Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation, which has had members in the public gallery at every stage of the debate, welcomed the news.

Spokesman Stephanie Kelsey said: ’We are thrilled that the bill has received its third reading and we hope it can proceed through Legislative Council without unnecessary delay.’

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

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 saved 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 and under the glare of international media interest.

Dr Allinson acknowledged the concerns shown by some MHKs by the proposed law changes.

Compromise

’Some members have found this process difficult due to the pre-stated opinions about abortion and their own honest, moral and ethical views,’ he said.

’I would like to thank them for their ability to question those views and work towards a compromise which will improve the access for women’s healthcare in the island.’

He added: ’The bill is designed to ensure access to safe abortion services for those women in the island who need them, through placing a duty on the Department of Health and Social Care to provide balanced, impartial and non-judgemental counselling before and after termination.

’It creates the space and opportunity for women to be supported in making the right decision for themselves and their family.’

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.

Clare Bettison (Douglas East) said it had been a privilege to support Dr Allinson’s bill and echoed the calls for the Legislative Council to give it proper scrutiny, but not prevaricate. She said it was 461 days since MHKs had first granted Dr Allinson leave to introduce a reform bill.

’In that time around 170 women will have had to seek abortions in other jurisdictions if they can afford to, or try and induce an abortion by unsafe means,’ she added.

’The World Health Organisation rightly points out that restrictive abortion laws do not restrict abortion, they simply restrict safe abortion and that is a critical point that we must remember today.’

Dr Allinson’s 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 travel to England for a procedure or risk obtaining abortion pills via the internet, as a result of the current restrictive regime.