The maths of coalition has opened the door to lobbyists | Simon Jenkins

Policymakers have rarely been so vulnerable to the blandishments of vested interests like the anti-abortion lobby

Why is abortion back on the political agenda? Surely after decades of debate and reform, a system that has worked tolerably well for half a century might be left in peace. Not so. Under proposals coming to the Commons next week, women seeking an abortion would first need compulsory "counselling" from an agency independent of an abortion clinic. Such counselling is at present...