The Presbyterian Church has repeated its “total opposition” to Westminster imposing a radical abortion regime on Northern Ireland. It fully decriminalises abortion and is more permissive than the regime in England.

Yesterday, the Northern Secretary issued an order compelling the Department of Health to make the procedure widely available, despite the opposition of some Stormont Ministers.

Brandon Lewis said he had a “moral obligation” to do so.

A statement from the Presbyterian Church said there is nothing ‘moral’ about his order, nor indeed the original legislation that he previously inflicted on the people of Northern Ireland.

The DUP has said that the Westminster direction to Stormont “undermined” devolution.

But Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party and Green Party have welcomed the move.