Conservative and Scottish National Party MPs would block an attempt to "impose" abortion on Northern Ireland, amid concerns about setting a precedent for intervening "over the heads" of devolved assemblies, a survey suggests.
An analysis by ComRes reveals that only nine per cent of Tory MPs, and 25 per cent of Scottish nationalists, agreed that a "free vote" should be held in the Commons on whether to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland, compared to 80 per cent from Labour.
Overall, 47 per cent of MPs said it would be a "betrayal of devolution" for Westminster to "impose abortion on Northern Ireland", compared to 38 per cent who disagreed.
The survey of 150 MPs suggests that Theresa May could...