Senior Tory urges Liz Truss to explain deletion of abortion rights from statement

Exclusive: Equalities committee chair Caroline Nokes joins international outcry after UK dilutes commitment to women's rights without consultation

A senior Conservative MP has asked the foreign secretary, Liz Truss, to explain why the UK government appeared to perform a sudden backtracking on women's rights" after commitments to abortion and sexual health rights were removed from an official multi-nation statement on gender equality.

Caroline Nokes, who chairs the women and equalities select committee, has written to Truss, who is also the minister for women and equalities and a Tory leadership contender, asking why the key phrases relating to reproductive rights were deleted.