So it turns out that there may have been a quid pro quo behind Amber Rudd’s backing for Jeremy Hunt, her former political mentor, beyond the usual conversations about Cabinet jobs.
Amber – who is for some reason that escapes me is considered a kingmaker – was interviewed this morning about one possible impediment to a shared world view between the two of them: Jeremy Hunt’s take on abortion, something that Amber says “is very important to me”.
Of Hunt’s view, expressed on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, that the legal limit for abortion should be reduced from 24 weeks to 12, she said it was his “personal, private view”.
“That has always been his view,” she said. “I have spoken to Jeremy and there will no change to abortion law if and when he becomes prime minister.”
Right, so it’s perfectly fine for him to think off-message thoughts about abortion in the privacy of the home, but not OK for him to initiate any actual legislation or to be hospitable to any change in the law from anyone else?
Amber has his personal assurance that the government will not be interfering with a woman’s right to choose, even though it happens to be about 12 weeks more lax than that of most EU countries and includes the patently discriminatory element that a disabled – loosely interpreted – foetus can be aborted right up to birth, whereas the limit for healthy foetuses is 24 weeks.
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