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29th Jun 2022

MP says he doesn’t agree women should have “absolute right to bodily autonomy”

Sarah McKenna Barry

The Wiltshire politician made the remarks in relation to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the US.

A Conservative MP has sparked outrage after telling the Commons that he doesn’t agree that women should have “absolute right to bodily autonomy“.

Danny Kruger, who also happens to be the son of Bake-Off judge Prue Leith, made the comments in relation to the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States.

Discussing the issue of abortion access in the Commons, Mr Kruger said that he would “probably disagree” with his fellow politicians.

He said: “They think that women have an absolute right to bodily autonomy in this matter, whereas I think in the case of abortion that right is qualified by the fact that another body is involved.

“I would offer to members who are trying to talk me down that this is a proper topic for political debate and my point to the frontbench is I don’t understand why we are lecturing the United States on a judgment to return the power of decision over this political question to the states, to democratic decision-makers, rather than leaving it in the hands of the courts.”

Mr Kruger’s comments were met with backlash from many politicians, including his colleagues in the Tory Party.

Lucy Allen, a Conservative MP for Telford responded saying: “I accept Danny’s right to disagree, but he no has no right to impose his views on others.”

Labour MP Stella Creasy voiced her support for access to abortion, and told the Commons that it is a “human rights issue”.

Comedian Caitlin Moran responded to Mr Kruger’s remarks on Twitter.

“Women, remember this man — Danny Kruger,” she wrote. “He doesn’t believe women should have an absolute right to bodily autonomy. He would prefer politicians make these decisions for you. He wants it ‘debated’. This is how it started in the States.”