London - Campaigners were last night hailing the end of "a major obstacle to women's freedom" as the country's main anti-abortion group was rocked by a series of resignations.
The Abortion Law Reform Association, which campaigns for easier access to abortion, said the resignation of leading members of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children ended the charity's credibility and created a greater climate of choice for women.
The comments came after it emerged that Ms Phyllis Bowman, founder member and political director of the SPUC, has resigned from the charity along with half its executive. The resignations caused alarm in the Pro-Life All Party Parliamentary Group which believes the SPUC is distancing itself from Parliament to form a closer alliance with the Catholic Church.