Recently some constituents have written to me to
ask if I would sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) that has been tabled calling on
the Government to cut international development funding provided to abortion
provider Marie Stopes International (MSI).
As a principle I never sign early day motions as
they very rarely achieve anything whilst at the same time running up costs to
the tax payer.
However as a pro-life MP I am concerned about the
reports that have been brought to my attention about taxpayer’s money being
channelled into supporting an abortion provider.
I am pleased that my colleague and friend Lord
Alton has recently raised this issue in the House of Lords, saying: “Marie
Stopes has been prevented by some Governments from functioning after performing
illegal abortions in their countries. It has also been investigated by the Care
Quality Commission, who said it had endangered the safety of women in the UK,
and that one woman bled to death after having an abortion in one of their
clinics in London.”
I will be seeking to bring this matter and the
points constituents made to the attention of the International Development
Secretary when I next see him, and to seek a full response from his department.
