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Politics latest: MPs vote to change law to decriminalise abortion

MPs vote to decriminalise women having an abortion in England and Wales, in a historic vote. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has given an interview to Sky News at the G7 summit in Canada.

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MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in historic vote

MPs have voted to add an amendment to a bill that would decriminalise women having an abortion in England and Wales in a historic vote.

The result of the vote was:

  • Ayes: 379
  • Noes: 137

That means the amendment was passed with a majority of 242. It was a free vote - MPs were not told how to vote by their parties.

The amendment, tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, would "disapply existing criminal law related to abortion from women acting in relation to her own pregnancy at any gestation, removing the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment".

Under current law in England and Wales, abortion is allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy - and beyond that in certain circumstances.

However, abortion is still considered a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 - and it has to be approved by two doctors.

This amendment would prevent women from being prosecuted - but would keep punishments for medical professionals and violent partners who end a pregnancy outside of the existing law.

It has been added to the government's flagship Crime and Policing Bill that is making its way through parliament, and will come law once that bill receives royal assent.

Michael Gove's ex-wife talks about the toxicity of British politics

On tonight's edition of Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, we spoke to columnist and author Sarah Vine, who used to be married to veteran cabinet minister Michael Gove.

She told Sophy that they met when they were both journalists, and while he all but guaranteed he wouldn't go into politics, that's exactly what ended up happening.

Asked for her view of politics, Vine said: "I've always felt that good politics is politics that no one notices. My idea of a perfect politician is someone that just gets the job done and I don't ever have to see them or talk to them or think about them.

"But I think once I got into the world of politics, I realised that it's just a lot scarier and a lot more toxic than I think a lot of people realise."

She explained that there was a "process of dehumanisation", and politicians are "basically addicts" searching for "one more great moment".

"Kemi Badenoch put it very well when she said it's about the least perfect solution, and that is very true."

She also said the changing media and social media landscape "means that politicians are under fire constantly, and it's very stressful".

Vine also said she felt like an outsider, and thinks there is a certain class element to her treatment as well.

Those who go to certain schools and know certain people are listened to "because of what you are rather than who you are".

But normal people "have to fight to get your voice heard".

Asked how Michael Gove fared, she said he was "paddling quite hard" while serving in politics.

"Michael has a brain the size of a planet, and so he is brilliant at doing whatever it is he wants to do. But I think on a sort of personal emotional level, I don't think he is a glider [through the system], no."

'Really pleased': MP who tabled measure to decriminalise abortion speaks to Sky News

We've just been speaking with Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who tabled the amendment that MPs agreed to that will decriminalise women having an abortion in England and Wales.

She told our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh that she is "really pleased" with the result, but also said the "debate has been quite toxic".

But she said she has met women who have been through "financial and emotional trauma" and had their "personal life being public knowledge in a court of law", which is "just wrong".

Antoniazzi rejected suggestions from opponents that this change could see more coercive abortions, labelling such notions as "misinformation" that is "completely wrong".

"No woman that is pregnant wants to have an abortion. If they do, they always remember - it is something that will live with them for the rest of their lives," she said.

"There will be a reason why" these "vulnerable women" are seeking abortions, Antoniazzi added, and she argued they should not be criminalised.

Abortion decriminalisation passed mainly by Labour and Lib Dem MPs

The breakdown of the vote to decriminalise women for having abortions has just been published by the House of Commons.

It shows the measure was passed overwhelmingly by Labour and Lib Dem MPs.

Just eight Conservative MPs voted in favour of the amendment (Kemi Badenoch voted against), and all Reform UK MPs opposed it - except Nigel Farage, who abstained.

Cabinet members who backed the amendment included:

  • Energy Secretary Ed Miliband;
  • Cabinet office minister Pat McFadden;
  • Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall;
  • Defence Secretary John Healey;
  • Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander;
  • Environment Secretary Steve Reed;
  • Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn;
  • Scotland Secretary Ian Murray;
  • Wales Secretary Jo Stevens;
  • Commons Leader Lucy Powell.

No cabinet ministers voted against it.

The man who met a 'wall of silence' on grooming gangs has been vindicated - but isn't here to see it

This week we finally have a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

We are talking about accountability, and we are also - most importantly - talking about the victims. About the children, because they were children when they were abused.

But there's someone who always believed those children. He listened to them, and he fought for them - when other people turned a blind eye. Or worse, treated them like they were the criminals.

And the sadness is that he died just last month, a matter of weeks before Baroness Casey's review justified everything he fought for.

Watch: Key takeaways from the Casey review

Andrew Norfolk was a journalist for the Times, and back in 2003, he noticed a trend where groups of men of Pakistani heritage were being prosecuted for grooming and abusing young girls.

"I decided I've got to get over my fear that this story is impossible to cover," he said.

And that started years and years of unglamorous investigative work - which was met by a "wall of silence" when he put his findings to the police and social services. And he was also constantly disappointed by the lack of action.

He suffered a torrent of abuse. He was accused of racism, he received death threats - but after meeting the victims, he wasn't going to give up.

His first front page was published in 2011: "Conspiracy of silence on UK sex gangs." It's taken another 14 years for that conspiracy of silence to be fully lifted.

And it's a real shame that Andrew Norfolk isn't here to see that happen.

PM 'worried about escalation' in Middle East - but says US attacking Iran not 'imminent'

Next on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge, we are turning to events in the Middle East, and the prime minister told Sky News earlier that he does not believe an American attack on Iran is "imminent" - and he is "worried about escalation" in the region.

Speaking to our political editor Beth Rigby at the G7 summit in Canada, Sir Keir Starmer was asked about Donald Trump's rapid, early departure last night, and if his emergency meetings with his national security officials could mean an American strike is coming,

He replied: "Well, I don't think you should read into that that an American attack is imminent."

He said he and fellow G7 leaders "had a two-hour discussion with the president last night on the Middle East, on this very issue", and the statement that results was "very clear about the risk of the nuclear program in Iran, Israel's right to self-defence and the need to de-escalate across the region, including in Gaza".

Asked directly if he is worried about the situation in the region escalating, Starmer said: "Of course I'm worried about escalation, which is why my focus is on de-escalation. I'm worried about escalation in the region and the impact it would have in the region. And I'm worried about the impact it would also have on Gaza.

"And I'm very pleased that the focus now is also on a ceasefire in Gaza, which I want to press forward in coming days as well, but also the impact it's having on our economy."

Watch the full interview here:

Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live - with historic abortion vote under way

Our flagship weeknight politics programme is under way.

At the start of the show, we are following events live in the House of Commons where MPs are voting on an amendment to decriminalise abortion.

We will bring you the result live shortly.

Joining us shortly after the vote will be Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who tabled the amendment being voted on.

Also on the show is columnist and author Sarah Vine, who was married to former veteran cabinet minister Lord Michael Gove.

And on Sophy's panel will be former Tory MP Dehenna Davison, and former shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth.

Watch live on Sky News and in the stream at the top of this page.

Sky News Daily: Was there a Whitehall cover-up of the grooming gangs scandal?

Whitehall officials tried to convince Michael Gove to go to court to cover up the grooming scandal in 2011.

That's according to Dominic Cummings, who was working for Gove at the time.

In an interview with Sky's political correspondent Liz Bates, Cummings has revealed how officials in the Department for Education wanted to help efforts by Rotherham Council to stop a national newspaper from exposing the scandal.

On the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin speaks to Liz Bates about the scandal and what Cummings told her.

Coming up on Sky News at 7pm

MPs are currently debating two amendments to a bill that would both decriminalise abortion - a historic step.

They cannot both pass, as they are slightly different, so the first vote - which is expected to pass - will be on the amendment tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi.

Under current law in England and Wales, abortion is allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy - and beyond that in certain circumstances.

However, abortion is still considered a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 - and it has to be approved by two doctors.

The Antoniazzi amendment hopes to prevent women from being investigated, arrested, prosecuted or imprisoned for ending their pregnancies.

Antoniazzi told the BBC that more than "100 women have in the last five years been put into the criminal system and it's not in the public interest".

Her amendment - which has been backed by 176 MPs - would keep punishments for medical professionals and violent partners who end a pregnancy outside of the existing law.

Live coverage of the vote at 7pm

We are expecting the vote to take place at 7pm, and we will bring you live coverage and reaction live on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge on Sky News.

We will hear from Tonia Antoniazzi live after the vote.

Also on the show is columnist and author Sarah Vine, who was married to former veteran cabinet minister Lord Michael Gove.

And on Sophy's panel will be former Tory MP Dehenna Davison, and former shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth.

Healey vows to ensure 'pipeline of people' for the army to 'defend our nation'

Defence Secretary John Healey has been speaking at the RUSI Land Warfare conference, and he talked about the state of the UK's army.

He said: "In the last decade, a million young people applied to join the military. They're the very lifeblood of the army. Every day, young men and women stepping forward in search of the opportunity, a sense of purpose and pride. In search of something greater than they have in their lives at present.

"And yet, of that million, more than three in four simply gave up, in large party because of the long delays in the process. They gave up before they were either recruited or rejected.

"And so, in response, we've set new targets, we've scrapped old policies and red tape, and we're starting to turn those numbers around.

"My pledge to you is that the army will have a pipeline of people, the pipeline of people it needs to defend our nation and our nation's interests."

For detailed insight on the state of the UK's armed forces, listen to Sky's new podcast, The Wargame. Russia knows our defences, but do you?