MPs tell midwives chief to resign

MPs are calling on the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, Cathy Warwick, following the revelation that the midwives’ union has quietly backed a campaign to decriminalise abortion.

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Warwick, who is also Chairman for the Board of Trustees for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), came under fire from a range of groups last week as it emerged that the RCM had backed BPAS’ campaign, ‘We Trust Women’, to remove the current 24-week abortion limit. The RCM’s membership was not consulted on the move.

A petition in response, 'Not in Our Name', has been signed by almost 40,000 individuals and hundreds of midwives.

MPs are now joining midwives, Christian Concern and pro-life groups, in calling for Warwick to step down from her post over this blatant conflict of interest.

Parliamentary motion

A parliamentary motion is to be held this week, and is expected to read: "This House condemns the move made by Cathy Warwick to campaign for the removal for all legal restrictions on abortion. We call for her resignation before the Royal College’s reputation is damaged further."

Andrew Percy, a Tory 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."

'Abortions part of midwife role'

Professor Warwick has refused to apologise for not consulting the RCM membership on adopting its new abortion policy.

Despite insisting last week that her position was compatible with her role as BPAS Chairman, her conflict of interest has become increasingly clear as pressure on her has mounted.

In an interview with the Telegraph she said that abortions should be "part" of a midwife’s role, and that the “rights and wrongs” of abortions should not be a consideration.

She claimed that doctors already interpret the 1967 Abortion Act "almost as loosely as possible" to get around the restrictions.

Asked whether she believed that there are some situations in which abortion is wrong, she replied: "Well, I would say no. At the end of the day, if you are a woman and you are pregnant you are going to have to make a decision about your pregnancy that you’re going to have to live with for the rest of your life, so why should I say that’s wrong?"

She also denied the rights of the unborn child, saying: "The woman is the person who has rights within the framework that we currently practise in and I think we have to focus on the woman."

'Horror of this position'

A midwife who was part of an important pro-life case has spoken out against the BPAS campaign and the RCM’s backing of it.

Mary Doogan and her colleague Concepta Wood took a case to the UK Supreme Court in 2014, over their right of conscientious objection in participating in abortion procedures.

Although Appeals Court judges found that the "right of conscientious objection extends not only to the actual medical or surgical termination but to the whole process of treatment given for that purpose", the Supreme Court later overturned this, deciding that the right of conscientious objection only applies to direct participation.

This ruling has raised concern for Christian midwives and others who object to abortion on moral grounds.

Now, Mary Doogan has voiced her objection to BPAS’ campaign: "I entered the profession to bring life into the world not to end life. This is really unbelievable. An unbelievable decision taken in the name of the majority of midwives.

"I would hope that the horror of this position and what is now being demanded of all midwives would penetrate minds and hearts and make them stand up and forcefully refuse to take part in this and oppose this policy decision."

'This campaign must be resisted'

Christian Concern’s Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said last week that Cathy Warwick ought to resign from her post as RCM chief. Commenting on new statistics showing that over 185,000 babies were aborted in England and Wales last year, she said:

"It is frightening that abortion campaigners are calling for further liberalisation, removing all protections, as though abortion is just a simple medical procedure, rather than the taking of a God-given life. This campaign must be resisted, for the sake of women, their families and their unborn children.

"There is a deep respect and love in this country for midwives in their important role supporting new life. It is tragic that, without consulting her members, the head of the Royal College of Midwives, has signed the organisation up to support easier killing of unborn children. She should resign immediately. Her position is incompatible with her activism and support for abortion."