Wiltshire MP says abortion comments were 'misunderstood'
Danny Kruger 'regrets the distress and anger'
Last updated 4th Jul 2022
A Wiltshire MP who was criticised for his remarks about abortion says he was misunderstood.
Danny Kruger, who represents Devizes, was speaking in the House of Commons last week after the US supreme court ended the constitutional right to a termination, meaning each state can now decide to make it illegal.
The Conservative said he disagreed that pregnant women had an 'absolute right to bodily autonomy.'
The comments sparked protests in his constituency over the weekend.
In a statement published on his website Mr Kruger now clarified his views.
He said;
"My position on abortion reflects the status quo. I support the 1967 Abortion Act, and I do not wish to dictate what a woman should do with her own body, as has been claimed."
Mr Kruger said his original comments were based on law, "which recognises that somewhere along the journey towards birth the foetus or baby acquires rights of its own."
He added that all autonomy is _'qualified' s_tressing;
"We are not absolutely free because we are not absolutely alone. ‘Absolute autonomy’ in the matter of abortion would mean no restrictions at all on the termination of healthy, viable babies up to nine months’ gestation. It is this radical position that I oppose."