Abortion row set to flare up

Abortion will be back on the political agenda this week as the debate on controversial new laws resumes.

It's thought a motion will be tabled by Labour politicians in an attempt to cut the maximum legal time limit from 24 to 22 weeks.

Proposals for an even lower limit could also be put forward as critics say the law needs to change to cut the number of abortions.

Latest figures show there are about 600 terminations across the UK every day.

Those against the idea of a lower limit say it would not help those who find out they're pregnant later on or teenage girls who are in denial.

Other MPs are expected to put forward a proposal to scrap the need for two doctors to agree before a termination is carried out and allow nurses to perform abortions in the early weeks of pregnancy.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill has also been criticised for proposals to allow scientists more freedom to carry out stem cell research.

Up to sixty of Gordon Brown's backbenchers are expected to join opponents of measures that would allow human animal hybrids for scientific research.

MPs are being allowed a free vote on this after the Prime Minister was faced with a rebellion.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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