The Alliance for Choice group travelled from Belfast to London to meet Labour MP Diane Abbott.

She has tabled an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to give women in the Province the same abortion rights as their counterparts in the rest of the UK.

They also handed a letter into 10 Downing Street.

PUP leader Dawn Purvis was among the group of 40 women – the number being symbolic of the 40 women a week who travel from the Province to the mainland to seek a termination.

She said the trip had several aims including: raising the profile of the issue among MPs; countering the claims of the four main political parties that the majority of people in Ulster oppose abortion; and campaigning for a free vote in Parliament which would allow individual members to vote as they please – and not according to the party whip.

The East Belfast MLA said: "What is important to stress is that this is not about being pro or anti-abortion, as has been characterised in the media.

"It is about equality and choice and the rights of women in Northern Ireland to be treated the same as women in the rest of the UK.

"We have seen headlines calling Alliance for Choice a pro-abortion group. It is a pro-choice group.

"There are people who have very deep and emotional views on this which cannot be termed as pro-abortion but they are pro-choice and the right to have a choice and the right to health provision."

Ms Purvis said that she was concerned that the four parties with MPs – DUP, UUP, Sinn Fein and SDLP – were telling the Government that people in the Province opposed the extension of the abortion law.

"They are highlighting that they represent the majority view," she said, "How do they know that? There has never been a referendum in Northern Ireland on the issue and never an election with this as a key issue."

Asked if she would like to see a referendum, the PUP leader said she was only focused on the amendment to the Bill.

And she countered those who said MPs in England, Scotland and Wales had no right to make a decision on an emotive issue such as this in Northern Ireland.

"This is an equality issue and a UK-wide issue and it is complete nonsense to make the argument that the UK Parliament cannot legislate on the issue because for 40 years Westminster has enacted various pieces of equality legislation in Northern Ireland."

The 1967 Abortion Act was, however, never enacted in the Province.

Ms Abbott believes there is "a very good chance" of it being extended by MPs – but it would face stiff opposition from Northern Ireland MPs who are against such a change.