UK midwives' chief supports lifting all legal restrictions on abortion; MPs call for her resignation

Members of Parliament angered over midwives chief Cathy Warwick's decision to support the lifting of all legal restrictions on abortion will call for her resignation this week through a parliamentary motion.

The MPs will demand that Warwick vacate her post as chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

"This House condemns the move made by Cathy Warwick to campaign for the removal for all legal restrictions on abortion. We call for her resignation before the Royal College's reputation is damaged further," the motion will read, according to a report.

Warwick earned much criticism last week after pledging the support of 30,000 members of the RCM to a campaign that will lift the ban on abortions beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy. The members of the RCM were apparently not consulted before Warwick gave the pledge on their behalf.

The campaign, led by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), pushes for abortions without age limit, which means women can opt for abortion even up to birth for any reason. The move, if it should be approved, will effectively decriminalize abortion in Britain, where it is presently illegal beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy and allowed only for medical reasons.

Warwick is a chairman of trustees at the BPAS. MPs have pointed out that holding a post both at BPAS and at RCM presents a conflict of interest for her.

However, Warwick has defended her decision to back the BPAS campaign, saying she would not change her decision even if given the chance. She claimed there was "very little reaction" over the issue and she received just a "handful of emails" from those who are against abortion.

"I suppose I'm inclined to not go into hindsight. I'm inclined to say that at the time we absolutely did what we would do and what we're authorized to do within the governance structures of the RCM," she said.

Hundreds of angry midwives have signed a letter saying they do not support Warwick's "extreme position" on abortion.

"The RCM does not speak in our name," the letter read.

A petition protesting the campaign has gained 20,000 signatures inside and outside the health care industry.

Anti-abortion groups reported that decriminalization of abortion in Victoria, Australia has resulted in an increase of late-term abortions since 2008. In cases of failed terminations, the fetuses are left to die. In 2011 alone, 40 abortions performed beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy led to live births.