Therese Coffey: New health secretary's views on abortion 'deeply concerning'

New prime minister Liz Truss spent Tuesday night assigning the top cabinet position - but her choice of health secretary has raised some eyebrows.

Therese Coffey, regarded as Truss’ biggest political ally, has been appointed to take charge of the country’s health system – but her views on abortion have sparked criticism over her suitability.

Coffey, who has also been made deputy prime minister by Truss, previously voted against extending abortion rights, citing her Catholic faith as the reason behind her views.

But pro-abortion campaigners have branded Coffey’s position on the issue as “deeply concerning”, saying it comes at a time “when women in many countries are still struggling to achieve abortion rights”.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), a charity that provides abortion care in the UK, said: “Earlier this year, our new health secretary voted to revoke access to at-home abortion care, and recriminalise women who end their own pregnancies without the approval of two doctors.

“In doing so, Therese Coffey voted against the advice of leading medical bodies.

“To have a health secretary who would place their personal beliefs above expert clinical guidance is deeply concerning.”

The charity added that the UK should “be a beacon for women’s reproductive choice”.

When questioned about her stance on abortion this morning, Coffey sought to reassure women, telling Sky News: “I’m conscious I’ve voted against abortion laws. What I will say I am a complete democrat… it’s not that I’m seeking to undo abortion laws.”

She added that she “hadn’t even considered” issue like abortion due to the crisis of a backlog in the NHS.

But Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour’s shadow minister for mental health, said: “Therese Coffey’s comments this morning will do nothing to put people at ease.

“Refuses to explain her anti-abortion stance, no mention of mental health and no plans for dealing with NHS backlogs."

Coffey previously said her decision to vote against extending abortion rights in Northern Ireland was because of her support of devolution and the UK Parliament not having a say on the issue.

But she also voted against making at-home abortion pills permanently available in England and Wales, following their introduction during the pandemic.

Coffey has also said that she would "prefer that people didn't have abortions”, but added: “I am not going to condemn people that do.”

When questioned about her views on abortion, she told Sky News in June: "Abortion law isn't going to change in this country."

Coffey has also come under fire for voting against same-sex marriage in Britain in 2013, which some have argued could influence her decisions as health secretary.

Benjamin Cohen, from Pink News, tweeted: “If you didn’t know, Therese Coffey, the new deputy prime minister and health secretary voted against same-sex marriage and continues to say that she opposes equality for gay couples.

“How will this impact how she will handle the monkey pox outbreak among gay and bisexual men?”

Government figures show there were 214,256 abortions for women resident in England and Wales last year, the highest number since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967.

Yahoo News UK has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for comment.