US abortion ruling - Stark reminder

YESTERDAY’S decision by the American supreme court to strike down Texas abortion limits is a reminder to our Government that even when the Brexit Gordian Knot is undone, another controversial and unavoidable issue awaits their attention.

The US court ruling may have paved the way to overturn dozens of measures in other states that curtail access to abortion. The ruling may be the most significant legal victory for reproductive rights advocates since the right to abortion was established in 1973.

The five-to-three ruling prevents Texas from enforcing a law imposing hospital building and safety standards on abortion clinics which would have closed all but nine clinics in the state.

The court also barred lawmakers from passing health measures backed by dubious medical evidence as a way of forcing large numbers of abortion clinics to close.

The ruling is unlikely to deter those opposed to abortion and their campaigns will continue. Despite this, our Government remains morally obliged to deal with the issue.