The majority of women in Northern Ireland believe that Westminster should not impose abortion laws on the North, a new poll from ComRes has revealed.

The polling showed that 64% of the general population in Northern Ireland agree that changing the law on this issue should be a decision for the people of Northern Ireland and their elected representatives with an even stronger majority of women, 66%, reject interference from Westminster.

Dawn McAvoy, of the Both Lives Matter organisation in Northern Ireland, said a Labour Party sponsored bill in the House of Commons to decriminalise abortion in the North is an attempt to “override devolution in Northern Ireland and to impose abortion laws on the Northern Irish people”.

“This polling clearly shows that this is not what the people of Northern Ireland, and in particular women, want,” she said.

“100,000 people in Northern Ireland are alive today because Northern Ireland did not accept the same abortion law that was introduced into Britain in 1967. We urge British MPs to respect the people of Northern Ireland and our elected representatives.”