Londoners liberal on abortion

Most Londoners believe abortion should be available on demand in the first three months of pregnancy, a survey reveals today.

Almost nine out of 10 say they believe women have the right to a termination without needing the permission of two doctors - both of whom must be convinced that the procedure is in the best interests of mother or child.

Under normal circumstances a pregnancy can be terminated up to 24 weeks. But there is increasing pressure for the date to be reviewed as evidence grows about the development of foetuses.

Professor Colin Francome, who commissioned the poll for Middlesex University, said: "Britain was one of the first states to bring in the abortion law, but since then British law has fallen behind that of countries such as Italy, Holland and France, where women don't need two doctors to allow them to make this important decision.

"The result shows that Londoners have liberal attitudes towards abortion."

Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy support a reduction in the abortion time limit to 22 and 20 weeks respectively. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has called for a review of the law.

More than 180,000 women in England and Wales had an abortion last year.