A police and crime commissioner has come under fire after his comments surrounding the US Supreme Court's decision to abolish the legal right to abortion across the country was a "triumph" for democracy
Rupert Matthews who is Leicestershire's police boss made the controversial comments on what he called a "highly emotive and divisive issue".
He tweeted: "Unpopular opinion alert: the best place for controversial matters of public policy to be decided is at the ballot box.
"The ruling from the US #SupremeCourt is therefore a triumph for democracy over rule by judges."
On Friday, June 24 the US Supreme Court overturned the law that protects a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, abolishing 50 years of precedent set by the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade case.
It is now left up to the individual US states to decide the legality of abortion, with some introducing so-called 'trigger laws' that instituted bans within hours of the new ruling.
He tweeted: "Unpopular opinion alert : the best place for controversial matters of public policy to be decided is at the ballot box. The ruling from the US #SupremeCourt is therefore a triumph for democracy over rule by judges."
Mr Matthews shared the post from his personal account and he quickly received backlash, Leicestershire Live reports.
But he went on to back up his original post by sharing a second, claiming not to be making a moral judgement on the matter.
Councillor Sharmen Rahman was among those who responded to his post.
She said: "Correction: the best place for matters pertaining to women's bodies is with WOMEN.
"Not unelected Supreme Court judges or anyone else for that matter. And your tweet should read “misogynistic opinion alert"."
Knighton councillor Melissa March, added: "Shame on you for considering this public policy.
"Women’s bodies are their own to make decisions about.
"Not yours as @LeicsPCC or judges or ‘ballot boxes’.
"The ruling from the US Supreme Court is a travesty for human rights & a denial of essential health care."
One local healthcare professional said: "I applaud the men who are standing with women on the right to abortion.
"And meanwhile, in Leicestershire the elected Tory Police & Crime Commissioner. Utterly shameful."
Another resident, Katy Wheatley added she was "appalled" when she saw the tweet.
"I feel that when you're in a position that he is in, you need people to trust you - I was just appalled that he thought it was ok to say that considering he is someone in a position of significant power.
"There is a small number of people who get to decide the fate of millions of women. How can that be right? Who is policing his body?
"Who tells him what to do with his body? It doesn't matter what you think of people, [abortion] is their choice to make."
Mr Matthews was asked to clarify his initial comment.
He said: "My comments were not about women’s rights to abortion.
"I was welcoming the fact that this highly emotive and divisive issue now transcends the Supreme Court and will be subject to national democracy via the ballot box."
Whilst the PCC claimed not to be sharing his opinion on women's rights to abortion, he did confirm in his comments that he believed it was a matter that should be decided on by politicians.
In response to one person on Twitter, Mr Matthews added: "Decisions regarding abortion will now be made by democratically elected legislators, and hence by their electors, as is right."
