ProLife Alliance

The alliance describes itself as Europe's first pro-life political party.

It is committed to "absolute respect for innocent human life from fertilisation until natural death".

The alliance was formed in October 1996 in time to field 55 candidates in the 1997 general election.

This single cell is a whole human being, not a part of the father or mother, whether created in the womb or on a laboratory slide

ProLife Alliance

This time, it is putting up 37 candidates.

Its manifesto argues for key legal changes including the outlawing of abortion and euthanasia.

It also wants to see pro-life education and would block overseas aid to agencies or governments which promote abortion, euthanasia, or sterilisation.

'Disgraceful bullying'

The party says it has been frustrated that more than a dozen attempts to amend the Abortion Act have been filibustered or denied government support.

A human embryo

Further, it claims some pro-life MPs have been subjected to "disgraceful bullying".

It argues that life is formed as soon as a sperm fertilises an egg.

"This single cell is a whole human being, not a part of the father or mother, whether created in the womb or on a laboratory slide," it says.

Law changes

The alliance has targeted three key law changes:

• Repeal the Abortion Act 1967 and outlaw all abortion unless essential in treatment to save the mother's life

• Repeal the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Outlaw the freezing or throwing away of surplus human embryos created during fertility treatment

• Ban euthanasia

The alliance would also promote the importance of the family, the dignity of motherhood and fatherhood, and respect for human life, through education.

It would withdraw funding and charitable status from agencies which promote anti-life or anti-family values.

Election battles

The alliance has fought several by-elections and contested five seats in the Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Its most significant electoral success was in the Paisley South by-election when it won 578 votes, 2.47%.

However, it has also fought its cause away from the ballot box.

Earlier this year the Pro-Life Alliance succeeded in winning a judicial review of Parliament's decision to legalise stem cell research.

A full hearing of the case is scheduled for June and until then any licences for research in the disputed field are on hold.

The alliance backed the parents of conjoined twins Jodie and Mary in the ultimately failed bid to stop the operation to separate the babies.