Labour leader Tony Blair last night came under fierce public attack over abortion from an aide to Cardinal Thomas Winning, leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics.
Father Noel Barry criticised both Mr John Major and Mr Blair, but his attack on the Labour leader was in stronger terms.
In a sermon in Motherwell, Father Barry did not overtly advise Catholics which party to vote for, but said both leaders had identified the ''fundamental issues'' of the campaign as trust, honesty, and leadership.
Recalling a dispute between Mr Blair and the cardinal, he said it would never have assumed the proportions it did ''had Mr Blair been willing simply to say that pro-life members of his party would be given the same latitude to fight for their beliefs as their opponents''.
Mr Major's party, he said, had at least allowed those who opposed the existing legislation to make their case and argue for change.
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