BRITAIN’S largest provider of abortions outside the National Health Service has changed its policy to back a lowering of the legal limit at which pregnancies may be terminated for non-medical reasons.

Marie Stopes International, which carries out 60,000 abortions a year at its nine clinics in Britain, says the 24-week limit ought to lowered to 20 weeks because of evidence that the foetus is “potentially viable” before 24 weeks.

This shift in policy leaves opponents to a reduction in the time limit, who include Tony Blair and many Labour MPs, increasingly isolated.

In altering its stance Marie Stopes has followed Lord Steel, the former Liberal Democrat leader and architect of Britain’s abortion law in 1967, who now believes the limit should be reduced. Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, has made abortion an election issue by calling for a reduction from 24 to 20 weeks.

Marie Stopes says it will now back such a change as part of a compromise deal if the reform also included making abortion more easily available for non-medical reasons in the earliest stages of pregnancy up to 12 weeks.

Dr Tim Black, chief executive of Marie Stopes International, said: “Public opinion is in favour of abortion but falls off quite quickly when we get to 20 weeks because there is a perception that the foetus is potentially viable. We do feel that in light of medical developments the upper limit should come down.”

Opinion began to shift last year towards a change in the law when three-dimensional ultrasound images were published that showed a baby making a walking-like movement in the womb 12 weeks into pregnancy, thumb-sucking and yawning at 14 weeks and opening its eyes at 18 weeks. In addition medical advances mean premature babies born at 23 weeks — or, on a few occasions, 22 weeks — can now survive.

As part of any reform, however, Marie Stopes would also want women to be eligible for abortions up to 12 weeks without having to gain permission from doctors — two must now give their written consent for the procedure. It says women seeking a termination between 13 and 20 weeks should have the signature of one doctor.

Black added: “If we brought the limit down to 20 weeks but made abortion more readily available up to 12 weeks, we believe that would be a reasonable compromise.”

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