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| Government 'right' on embryo bill | Government 'right' on embryo bill |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government is right to try to push through controversial embryo laws, Health Minister Ben Bradshaw has said. | The government is right to try to push through controversial embryo laws, Health Minister Ben Bradshaw has said. |
| Legislation would be "to the potential benefit of many people in this country", Mr Bradshaw told the BBC. | Legislation would be "to the potential benefit of many people in this country", Mr Bradshaw told the BBC. |
| The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would allow the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research. | The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would allow the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research. |
| Catholic Labour MP Joe Benton and Scottish Catholic leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien are among those who have called for MPs to have a free vote. | Catholic Labour MP Joe Benton and Scottish Catholic leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien are among those who have called for MPs to have a free vote. |
| 'Ease suffering' | 'Ease suffering' |
| In a sermon released on Good Friday, and to be delivered on Easter Sunday, Cardinal Keith O'Brien described the plans as "monstrous". | |
| He warned Prime Minister Gordon Brown against imposing a three-line whip on Labour MPs - which orders them to vote with the party line. | He warned Prime Minister Gordon Brown against imposing a three-line whip on Labour MPs - which orders them to vote with the party line. |
| We seem to be moving into a sphere where we are actually taking on the role of the creation of life Stephen Pound MP | We seem to be moving into a sphere where we are actually taking on the role of the creation of life Stephen Pound MP |
| Mr Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions: "I think if it was about the things the cardinal referred to, creating babies for spare parts or raiding dead people's tissue, then there would be justification for a free vote. | |
| "But it's not about those things. He was wrong in fact, and I think rather intemperate and emotive in the way that he criticised this legislation. | "But it's not about those things. He was wrong in fact, and I think rather intemperate and emotive in the way that he criticised this legislation. |
| "This is about using pre-embryonic cells to do research that has the potential to ease the suffering of millions of people in this country. The government has taken a view that this is a good thing." | "This is about using pre-embryonic cells to do research that has the potential to ease the suffering of millions of people in this country. The government has taken a view that this is a good thing." |
| 'Profoundly disturbing' | 'Profoundly disturbing' |
| However, another Catholic Labour MP, Stephen Pound, has said he will not be voting for the measure. | However, another Catholic Labour MP, Stephen Pound, has said he will not be voting for the measure. |
| He said: "This issue of the creation of embryos by fusing human and animal cells - I wouldn't use the word Frankenstein - but I would say it's profoundly disturbing and it worries me deeply. | He said: "This issue of the creation of embryos by fusing human and animal cells - I wouldn't use the word Frankenstein - but I would say it's profoundly disturbing and it worries me deeply. |
| From a religious point of view, it seems right that we should use God-given powers of science Evan Harris MP | From a religious point of view, it seems right that we should use God-given powers of science Evan Harris MP |
| "We seem to be moving into a sphere where we are actually taking on the role of the creation of life." | "We seem to be moving into a sphere where we are actually taking on the role of the creation of life." |
| The Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, will use his Easter Monday homily to call for a free vote. | The Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, will use his Easter Monday homily to call for a free vote. |
| He will say that for Labour MPs to be unable to vote according to their conscience "would suggest that, within the party of government, there is no space for the views and the votes of those who have ethical objections, especially when founded in religious belief". | |
| 'Terrible diseases' | 'Terrible diseases' |
| Liberal Democrat Evan Harris, a member of the Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, said he felt ethically obliged to allow scientists to carry out the research. | |
| "From a religious point of view, it seems right that we should use God-given powers of science to create short-term entities that are microscopic that might be a way of showing us how to develop stem cells from embryos that might be used to treat people with terrible diseases," he said. | "From a religious point of view, it seems right that we should use God-given powers of science to create short-term entities that are microscopic that might be a way of showing us how to develop stem cells from embryos that might be used to treat people with terrible diseases," he said. |
| "We've been creating life, in terms of in-vitro fertilisation in the test tube and bringing joy to hundreds of thousands of childless people, for decades. | "We've been creating life, in terms of in-vitro fertilisation in the test tube and bringing joy to hundreds of thousands of childless people, for decades. |
| "So the idea this is brand new and wrong are both completely wrong." | "So the idea this is brand new and wrong are both completely wrong." |
| Controversial aspects | Controversial aspects |
| Mr Benton said a "substantial number" of fellow Labour MPs were ready to defy the government. | Mr Benton said a "substantial number" of fellow Labour MPs were ready to defy the government. |
| Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy is reportedly prepared to quit the Cabinet rather than back the bill. | Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy is reportedly prepared to quit the Cabinet rather than back the bill. |
| Other Catholics in the Cabinet are Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Defence Secretary Des Browne. | Other Catholics in the Cabinet are Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Defence Secretary Des Browne. |
| Downing Street has said a decision on whether to allow a free vote will be taken "in due course". | Downing Street has said a decision on whether to allow a free vote will be taken "in due course". |
| Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders plan to allow their MPs to have a free vote on the more controversial aspects of the bill. | Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders plan to allow their MPs to have a free vote on the more controversial aspects of the bill. |
| The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is designed to bring the 1990 regulatory framework for fertility treatment and embryo research in line with scientific advances. | The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is designed to bring the 1990 regulatory framework for fertility treatment and embryo research in line with scientific advances. |