TENS of thousands of people have signed a petition to call for a cut in the time-limit for abortion.
Hours ahead of the crunch vote, a 60,000-strong petition was handed in to 10 Downing Street by a woman whose mother rejected doctors' advice to abort her.
Antoinette Okoiye, 17, from Chingford, east London, is now an A-level student hoping to go
on to read English at university, as well as a carer for her mother, Clothilda, who is wheelchair-bound because of childhood polio.
She said her narrow escape from termination convinced her of the need for a total ban on abortion.
"My mum contracted polio when she was one year old and, because of that, when she became pregnant with me the doctors in the hospital in north London advised her to have an abortion," said Ms Okoiye.
"I am just happy my mum said 'No', otherwise I wouldn't be here," she added. "I think abortion should be abolished, full stop."
However, supporters of the existing law also signalled their determination to fight the attempted changes from the pro-life and religious lobbies, with 93 MPs signing a cross-party Commons motion stating the current limit was "scientifically and ethically justified".
Signatories included the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett and Frank Dobson, the former health secretary.
Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, who also backs the status quo, said: "The medical evidence has not changed, and that is why I will support the 24 weeks. I respect all the views that people have on this matter. That is why there is a free vote."
The full article contains 282 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
