Alton would accept a compromise to his one line bill along the lines of a 22 or 24 week limit. It is urgent that we campaign against this as a solution and keep up the pressure to defeat this bill altogether.
The pro-choice members of the committee — led by Jo Richardson and including Audrey Wise, Joan Ruddock and Mildred Gordon — are so far rumoured to be against the compromise. The anti-abortion members are equally hard line. However, such a compromise could still be seen as a way of avoiding the deadlock.
Pro-choice MPs are planning amendments of their own: calling for abortion on demand up to 12 weeks, for example. These amendments are largely for the purpose of filibustering and generally tend to subvert the whole purpose of the bill.
Meanwhile, up in the house of lords, a special committee has just reported on the issue. They recommend no change in the term limit from the current one of 28 weeks. In addition, they pose the question of whether there should be a term limit at all! The sting in the tail is that they do believe that the grounds for abortion should be different from 24 weeks on. Their recommendations could well arrive in the commons at the same time as Alton's bill,
Inside the Labour Party women are up in arms against the 55 Labour MPs who abstained or voted for Alton -against Labour Party policy. A campaign is under way for de-selection and the implementation of a three line whip in the next commons vote. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 6 March/April 1988
No compromise with Alton! Deputy leader Roy Hattersley has particularly incensed campaigners in Birmingham by declaring that he is opposed to all abortions unless the woman is dying. Such MPs will come under even more pressure now that the Labour Party nationally has agreed to support the 19 March demonstration and is producing its own leaflets. TGWU elections a victory for the left THE