Pro-abortion politician: ‘Abortion for Down’s does not sit right with me’

A pro-abortion politician has expressed disquiet over disability-selective abortions for Down’s syndrome.

Elliot Colburn told a writer for the Evangelical Times that although he is ‘pro-choice’, the current law allowing abortion up to birth for Down’s syndrome has created a quandary for him.

In England and Wales, around 90 per cent of babies diagnosed with Down’s syndrome are aborted.

‘Mortified’

The former MP for Carshalton and Wallington said he was “mortified” to hear from mums at a constituency support group “who were thrust a leaflet on abortion without any discussion or offer of support when their baby had been found to have Down Syndrome”.

He explained: “It does not sit right with me that termination is not only offered, but almost expected, in many cases, as per the stories some mums shared with me.”

Colburn believes there is “a strong case” for a change in the law in this area as it currently reflects “outdated views and medical understandings”.

Concerns

Latest statistics for England and Wales show that 3,124 babies deemed to have a disability were aborted during 2022, including 760 with Down’s syndrome and 46 with cleft palate and lip.

Commenting on the figures, the Don’t Screen Us Out campaign said: “It is deeply concerning that despite the leaps that advocacy groups have made in raising awareness in support of people with Down’s syndrome, abortion in the case of Down’s syndrome is still so commonplace and widespread in the UK.

“In fact, we hear from parents all the time how abortion was repeatedly presented to them in the hospital as an obvious solution following the receipt of the news that their baby had Down’s syndrome.”