Thank
you to constituents who recently contacted me regarding the amendments on
abortion and same-sex marriage to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation)
Bill.
I
understand how important issues like abortion and marriage are to many people.
But
I believe the vote was about an equally important issue – that is whether or
not we respect the devolution settlement for Northern Ireland.
I
accept the position in England and Wales on same sex marriage and abortion has
been put in place through a democratic process in Parliament. However, these
legislations did not cover Northern Ireland.
Certain
areas of legislation in Northern Ireland have been devolved since the creation
of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 as a result of the Good Friday
Agreement.
Marriage
and abortion laws in Northern Ireland is a devolved policy issue and should be
for the people of Northern Ireland and their elected representatives to decide
on. I do not believe it is for me to impose my views in matters that have been
devolved to the Northern Irish Assembly.
Therefore,
in my view the UK Parliament is not the place to undermine Northern Ireland’s
devolved status by imposing any change to their laws regarding marriage or
abortion.
I
am concerned that by imposing this on Northern Ireland we are undermining the
status of the devolution agreement which may now have set a dangerous
precedent.
I
can only imagine the outcry in Cornwall if having given responsibility for
certain matters over to local authorities we then saw Westminster overruling
and imposing their views on us.
It
should be for the people of Northern Ireland to decide for themselves whether
they would like to introduce same-sex marriage or liberalise abortion in
Northern Ireland, through a vote in Stormont when power-sharing is restored or
a referendum. If these issues in Northern Ireland are important to the people
there, then they will elect people to represent them that will introduce it.
That is how this decision should be made, not by politicians in Westminster.
