Pro-life MPs call for reform in UK's abortion law in light of new statistics on premature births

Pro-life MPs are calling for a reform in UK's abortion law as new statistics reveal that more babies in England and Wales are surviving premature births at 23 weeks than in the past.

According to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 33 percent of babies born at 23 weeks in 2014 reached their first birthday, compared to 23 percent in 2010 and 20 percent in 2011.

The chances of survival for infants born at 24 weeks has also risen, The Daily Mail reported. The statistics show that 62 percent of babies born during this period of pregnancy lived for at least a year. Just over half of babies born in 2010 at the same period reached their first birthday.

In light of the new data, pro-life MPs are calling into question UK's abortion limit, which currently allows pregnancies to be terminated at 24 weeks.

Fiona Bruce, Tory MP for Congleton and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, said that the new statistics highlight "how shocking it is that our current law does not recognise the rights and immense value of a baby at that stage it its life."

"In the rest of Europe, the term limit for abortions is generally around 12 weeks, apart from exceptional circumstances. So at 20 weeks, a baby in France or Germany has more rights than a baby in the UK. This is not right," she added.

The new figures came just as pro-choice groups are pushing for the removal of criminal sanctions against illegal abortion, which effectively abolishes the 24-week limit.

Leaders of the Royal College of Midwives are calling for decriminalization, which is also the campaign objective of abortion providers such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.

Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Hull North, has put forward a bill that seeks to liberalize the current abortion law which she described as "Victorian."

Jim Shannon, a Christian and Democratic Unionist MP for Strangford, noted that there will be a stronger demand for more abortion because of the general election that is scheduled to take place on June 8. However, he said that he will be one of many MPs who will advocate for pro-life values.

Shannon, who also sits on the All Party Parliament Pro-Life group, noted that some of his colleagues are in favor of a 12-week abortion limit. He maintained that he has stricter pro-life values, but he said it would be a good start for the U.K.

Robert Flello, pro-life Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent, expressed his belief that the public supports a reduction in time limits.

"I think the public is behind a reduction in time limits and not abortion up to birth, which obviously is what decriminalisation would open the door to," he said.

"Those behind the move to decriminalise abortion are clear about their agenda – it is nothing to do with science, nothing to do with morality, it is simply a free-for-all," he added.