CONSERVATIVE MP Chris Green was just one of 99 members to vote against against extending abortion rights in Northern Ireland ­ ­— but did vote to allow same-sex marriage.

Bolton South-East MP Yasmin Qureshi and Bolton West MP David Crausby voted to approve an amendment from Labour's Stella Crease to liberalise access to abortion. It was approved by 332 votes to 99.

Access to abortion is also a major touchstone issue in Northern Ireland, with large numbers of women travelling to Great Britain for terminations, and mass rallies for and against medical provision at home.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: "We are extremely grateful to all those MPs from across the UK who made clear that they would no longer turn a blind eye to the injustice and suffering faced by the women of Northern Ireland.

"The Government has been told repeatedly by the Supreme Court, the United Nations Committee against Torture, and the UN Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women that the current law - which forces women to travel to England for the healthcare they need or risk prosecution and punishment by using pills bought online - breaches women's human rights."

All three Bolton MPs voted to approve an amendment from Labour's Conor McGinn to require Westminster to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if a new Stormont Executive is not formed by October 21. MPs voted by 383 votes to 73 for.

Campaigner John O'Doherty said: "Our future got a little brighter today and we hope that LGBT people across Northern Ireland will wake up tomorrow feeling more hopeful for the future we all want to see."

This means MPs have voted to force the Government to liberalise access to abortion and allow same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if devolution is not restored.

The votes were held as part of House of Commons measures aimed at keeping Northern Ireland public services running, two and a half years after devolved powersharing collapsed.