Abortion campaign gets top lobbyist

CATHOLIC MP David Alton has enlisted the help of an expert parliamentary lobbyist to help in the growing campaign to reform the abortion law.
Mr Christopher Graffias, whose salary will be part-paid by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, has been taken on in the run-up to what is expected to be the anti-abortion movement's most intense battle since 1968.
Mr Graffias has valuable parliamentary experience as he has worked for leading parliamentary lobbyists Charles Barker, Watney and Powell. He has worked for Mr Alton before, when the MP was Liberal Chief Whip.
Mr Graffias said this week that he believed the current opportunity gave the best chance in 20 years to change the present law.
The chance to amend the law will come when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, now in its Lords committee stage, reaches the Commons. The Government has indicated it will allow abortion-related amendments, and as the Bill will be presented in Government time it cannot be talked out, as happened to previous attempts to amend the law on abortion. The pro-life movement is anxious to have the present 28-week abortion time limit cut by between four and 10 weeks.
Mr Graffias advised Catholics to be lobbyists in their own areas and to seek out their local MPs to question them on the issue of abortion. "Everyone can get expert information from Life and SPUC", he said.
Mr Graffias stressed the the issue is of immense importance to MPs and that pressure brought upon them will most certainly yield results. "Because it is a non-party issue MPs will want to be as informed as possible and they will be open to what their constituents are telling them."
A series of anti-abortion rallies is being planned around the country. The Albert Hall in London has also been booked for a rally to be held on February 17.