An Early Day Motion has been tabled calling for the immediate resignation of Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
Early Day Motion 123 has been tabled by Labour MP Rob Flello, in response to the RCM backing a radical campaign to decriminalise abortion, thus permitting abortion up to birth for any reason.
The motion states that Ms Warwick introduced the new policy without consulting RCM members or the RCM board, and highlights comments she made in the Daily Telegraph on 20 May 2016 in which she dogmatically states that "abortion is part of the role of a midwife".
It goes on to note with concern that she "announced at a conference organised by abortion provider British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), for whom she is also Chair of Trustees, that she seeks to educate midwives who are too focused on women having babies rather than terminations and gave details on how to get around the Abortion Act 1967."
'Unsuitable'
A petition in response, 'Not in Our Name', has been signed by over 40,000 individuals and over 900 midwives.
The Early Day Motion signals that MPs are now joining midwives, Christian Concern and other pro-life groups, in calling for Ms Warwick to step down from her post over her stance on abortion.
Last week, Andrew Percy, a Conservative MP and a member of the Health Select Committee, said: "She hasn’t had the good grace to amend her view or apologise. I think she is wholly unsuitable for the position she holds. She should step down. She hasn’t asked midwives what they think and what she has said is deeply offensive."
Contact your MP
If you would like to see the Early Day Motion gain more support you can write to/visit your MP asking them to sign the motion.
You can add your own support by signing the 'Not in Our Name’ petition, which calls on the RCM to withdraw their support for the radical campaign to remove all legal restrictions on abortion.
Related Links:
Early Day Motion 123: Royal College of Midwives and Abortion (Parliament)
Abortion is part of our calling, says Royal College of Midwives chief Cathy Warwick (Telegraph)
Midwives chief acknowledges conflict of interest
MPs tell midwife chief to resign