Tom Harris MP is reacting to the news that a 59-year-old woman is to have a child by IVF, and is disgusted by the idea. His argument is that nature in its wisdom has decided that that age is too old for a child and that science has no business messing with that. Presumably he’s also against any form of life extension, either. Or artificial abortion, come to think of it . . .

But what really stands out is this assertion:

Mrs. Tollefsen, told The Sun: “Every woman has a right to be a mother.” No, they don’t. Having a child, becoming a parent is a privilege, not a right.

Now I’m not one for long lists of positive rights, much preferring short lists of negative rights, but it says something that every statement of human rights since the 1948 U.N. declaration includes the right to marry and found a family. Mr. Harris is straying into truly novel philosophical ground here. What should we call it? Privilegism?