American-style culture wars in British politics?

A Catholic Liberal Democrat MP has been targeted by a leafleting campaign for voting according to his conscience on questions of abortion and on the Equality Act.

Leaflets produced by the Conservative Party candidate for Leeds North West attacked Greg Mulholland, the standing MP for the constituency, for his pro-life record and his voting record on amendments to schedule nine of the Equality Act which left existing legislation protecting the rights of religious groups in place. Mr Mulholland consistently voted for pro-life amendments when the HFE Bill was being discussed and has abstained from voting on questions of gay rights.

Two million expected at Spanish pro-life rally

Organisers expect over 2 million people to take part in a pro-Life demo in Madrid this Saturday.

Rising in protests against the Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s plans to liberalise Spain’s abortion laws, millions are expected to take to the streets under the slogan “Every life matters”. It is also the name of the umbrella group for over forty pro-life groups who have joined forces for the rally.

“We are counting with around 2 million people who will take part in the March for life,” said
Benigno Blanco, the president of the Spanish forum for families, a lawyer and former politician and one of the demos organisers according to a report in an Austrian newspaper.

“We strive towards three goals with this demonstration: to restore a lost culture of life, to explain to worried mothers that they are not alone, and to make it clear to the Government that a great majority of Spaniards are against the new abortion laws,” he said.