Nigeria, June 19 -- The leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has criticised a recent parliamentary vote supporting the decriminalisation of abortion in England and Wales, saying the process was rushed.

In a statement released Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch said she gave Conservative members of parliament a free vote as abortion has traditionally been treated as a matter of personal conscience.

However, she confirmed that the party opposed the amendment by issuing a two-line whip.

"People need to know where I stand," she said. "I am pro-choice, but I do not support abortion up to full term. This amendment goes too far."

Mrs Badenoch, a mother of three, said the proposal received only two hours of debate and failed to address ke...