Junior health minister reveals no complaints from NHS staff about pro-life campaigners

Junior Health Minister, Ben Gummer, has revealed that there have been no complaints from NHS staff over the behaviour of pro-life campaigners.

Labour MP Cat Smith tabled a written question asking whether the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, "has received any representations from NHS staff who feel they are being harassed outside NHS buildings by protesters."

In response, Mr Gummer replied: "There have been no representations from National Health Service staff who feel they are being harassed outside NHS buildings by protesters. Although protesters are democratically entitled to make their views known on abortion and other issues and can do so outside NHS hospitals and other NHS buildings, we would condemn any harassment of NHS staff, patients and others."
 

Principally and personally opposed to abortion

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer, came under pressure from Britain’s largest abortion provider, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) to review his stance on abortion, following his appointment as a Junior Health Minister.

Mr Gummer, who has been appointed as a Junior Health Minister, has previously spoken out about his opposition to abortion. "I am personally and principally opposed to abortion," Mr Gummer told the Guardian in an interview in 2008.

Ms Clare Murphy who is director of external affairs at BPAS criticised the junior health minister’s stance, telling the Independent "It is concerning that ministers with roles that involve women’s health and equality apparently oppose abortion - their stance does not reflect the view of their electorate."

Ms Murphy suggested that rather than seeking new ways to curb women’s "already restricted reproductive freedoms", Mr Gummer and his colleagues should be moving to fully decriminalise abortion in the UK, "If we must have a new British Bill of Rights, it would be very welcome if pregnant women were handed a few."

Despite pressure from BPAS, Mr Gummer rejected calls to reassess his stance on abortion saying: "This was a personal view expressed seven years ago.

"Change to abortion law has always been a matter for Parliament, not for the Government.

"It is accepted Parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from backbench members, not ministers, and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes, as with all matters of conscience." 

Related Links: 
Junior Health Minister remains firm in his stance for life  
Ben Gummer, Ipswich (Guardian) 
New health minister opposed to abortion urged to reconsider stance 'that does not reflect the view of the electorate' (Independent)