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Catholic leader urges free vote PM set for embryo bill compromise
(about 8 hours later)
The Roman Catholic leader in England and Wales has urged a free vote on the government's controversial embryo bill. The prime minister is prepared to allow Labour MPs who oppose a controversial embryo bill to vote against pieces of the legislation, the BBC has learned.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said Catholic MPs would want to vote according to their conscience. The votes would be permitted only if they did not threaten the passage of the bill, a government official said.
The Archbishop of Westminster joins senior Catholics including Scottish leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien and the Archbishop of Cardiff in the call. Some MPs are deeply concerned about letting scientists create embryos which combine human DNA and animal cells.
The government said research using human-animal embryos could help ease the suffering of millions of people. Prominent Catholic clergy, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, have urged Mr Brown to allow a free vote.
Ministers are facing growing dissent over the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which would allow the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research. The cardinal, who is the Roman Catholic leader in England and Wales, said Catholic MPs would want to vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill according to their conscience.
Conscience grounds 'Feel very strongly'
In an interview for Sky News Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "I think Catholics in politics have got to act according to their Catholic convictions, so have other Christians, so have other politicians. The government says the medical benefits of allowing the creation of hybrid embryos for research purposes could ease the suffering of millions of people. Catholics in politics have got to act according to their Catholic convictions, so have other Christians, so have other politicians Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
But Mr Brown has faced growing dissent over the bill, including from several prominent ministers.
One Catholic Labour MP, Joe Benton, has warned that a "substantial number" of fellow Labour MPs are ready to defy the government if there is no free vote.
Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy is reportedly prepared to quit the cabinet rather than vote for the bill. Other Catholics in the cabinet are Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Defence Secretary Des Browne.
In an interview for Sky News broadcast on Sunday, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "I think Catholics in politics have got to act according to their Catholic convictions, so have other Christians, so have other politicians.
"There are Catholics who feel very strongly about this matter and I am glad that they do."There are Catholics who feel very strongly about this matter and I am glad that they do.
"Certainly, there are some aspects of this Bill on which I believe there ought to be a free vote, because Catholics and others will want to vote according to their conscience. I don't think it should be subject to the party whip.""Certainly, there are some aspects of this Bill on which I believe there ought to be a free vote, because Catholics and others will want to vote according to their conscience. I don't think it should be subject to the party whip."
A senior government source has told the BBC that the prime minister accepts that a number MPs, thought to include several prominent ministers, oppose aspects of the bill on grounds of conscience.
Gordon Brown is said to be prepared to sanction them voting against parts of government legislation - but only if the government would not be defeated.
'Moral dilemma'
The Archbishop of Cardiff, the Most Reverend Peter Smith, has written to Mr Brown, asking for Labour MPs to be released from a three-line whip which would oblige them to vote for the bill.
The archbishop told BBC Radio 4: "Those MPs who have approached me over recent weeks have said: 'Look, I don't think this is right. I accept the teachings of the Church, yet I am a government minister, or I am a Labour MP. Can I discuss with you the moral dilemma I have got?'."
Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy is reportedly one of those prepared to quit the cabinet rather than vote for the bill. Other Catholics in the Cabinet are Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and Defence Secretary Des Browne.
Catholic Labour MPs Joe Benton and Stephen Pound have voiced their opposition.
In a sermon to be delivered on Easter Sunday, Cardinal O'Brien will describe the plans as "monstrous".
'Good thing''Good thing'
In response, Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "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." Other senior Catholic clergymen including Scottish leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien and the Archbishop of Cardiff, Peter Smith, have also called on Mr Brown to allow a free vote.
In his Easter Sunday sermon, Cardinal O'Brien describes plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos as "monstrous".
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 Health minister Ben Bradshaw The Archbishop of Cardiff says Catholic Labour MPs and ministers had told him of their struggle with a moral dilemma.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday: "Those MPs who have approached me over recent weeks have said: 'Look, I don't think this is right. I accept the teachings of the Church, yet I am a government minister, or I am a Labour MP. Can I discuss with you the moral dilemma I have got?'."
But Health Minister Ben Bradshaw has said: "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."
Liberal Democrat Evan Harris, a member of the Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, said it was right to conduct research that "might be used to treat people with terrible diseases".Liberal Democrat Evan Harris, a member of the Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, said it was right to conduct research that "might be used to treat people with terrible diseases".
Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will allow their MPs a free vote.Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will allow their MPs a free vote.
Mr Brown has said a decision on a free vote for his MPs would be taken "in due course".
The bill is designed to bring the 1990 regulatory framework for fertility treatment and embryo research in line with scientific advances.The bill is designed to bring the 1990 regulatory framework for fertility treatment and embryo research in line with scientific advances.