Conservative Peer Lord Shinkwin hit out at Britain’s abortion laws in late March, describing them as a ‘licence to kill for the “crime” of being disabled’.
In an article for The House magazine, Lord Shinkwin warned that the number of disabled babies being aborted increased by 68% between 2005 and 2015. And he highlighted that 90% of babies diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome are killed in the womb. In Britain, abortions take place before 24 weeks, but disabled children can be aborted up to birth.
Lord Shinkwin, who is himself disabled, believes this distinction in the law means people like him are discriminated against.
Deeply disturbing
He says in the article: ‘There’s something deeply disturbing about non-disabled politicians spouting equality and then in the same breath defending a law which is being used as a licence to kill for the ‘crime’ of being disabled.
‘I ask what message it sends if, after birth, I’m good enough for the House of Lords but, before birth, I’m only good enough for the incinerator. ‘Too many in the medical establishment still view congenital disability as a tragedy to be eradicated through abortion.’
Lord Shinkwin, who was born with the brittle bone disease Osteogenesis imperfecta, tabled a Bill which would see all abortions banned after 24 weeks. The Abortion (Disability Equality) Bill, a Private Member’s Bill, would have removed a provision that allows women to have an abortion if there is substantial risk that the child would suffer such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. It reached report stage in the Lords, but will not progress any further.
