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| PM set for embryo bill compromise | PM set for embryo bill compromise |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The votes would be permitted only if they did not threaten the passage of the bill, a government official said. | The votes would be permitted only if they did not threaten the passage of the bill, a government official said. |
| Some MPs are deeply concerned about letting scientists create embryos which combine human DNA and animal cells. | Some MPs are deeply concerned about letting scientists create embryos which combine human DNA and animal cells. |
| Prominent Catholic clergy, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, have urged Mr Brown to allow a free vote. | Prominent Catholic clergy, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, have urged Mr Brown to allow a free vote. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Feel very strongly' | 'Feel very strongly' |
| 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYSince when did the catholic church decide how the British government conducts its affairs?Tony, Newcastle class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4511&edition=1&ttl=20080323091144">Send us your comments"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." |
| 'Good thing' | '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. | 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". | 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. | 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?'." | 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. | 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." | "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. |
| 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. |