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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brown compromise over embryo vote | Brown compromise over embryo vote |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown says Labour MPs will have a free vote on three controversial parts of his embryo research proposals. | Gordon Brown says Labour MPs will have a free vote on three controversial parts of his embryo research proposals. |
| He said the measures were of huge importance, but added that he respected the ethical issues involved for some. | He said the measures were of huge importance, but added that he respected the ethical issues involved for some. |
| The prime minister said if the three bits are backed by MPs, he expects all Labour MPs to vote in favour when there is the final vote on the whole bill. | The prime minister said if the three bits are backed by MPs, he expects all Labour MPs to vote in favour when there is the final vote on the whole bill. |
| The PM offered the deal after warnings that some Catholic Labour MPs and cabinet ministers were ready to rebel. | The PM offered the deal after warnings that some Catholic Labour MPs and cabinet ministers were ready to rebel. |
| The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is designed to bring existing laws on fertility treatment and embryo research into line with scientific advances. | The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is designed to bring existing laws on fertility treatment and embryo research into line with scientific advances. |
| 'Huge importance' | 'Huge importance' |
| The government wants Labour MPs to support the legislation, but some MPs - including three Catholic cabinet ministers - are thought to think the plans are ethically wrong. | |
| Reports suggest that unless there is a free vote they might quit the cabinet rather than vote in favour. | Reports suggest that unless there is a free vote they might quit the cabinet rather than vote in favour. |
| The three areas where Mr Brown said there would be free votes during the passage of the bill through the Commons are IVF research, saviour siblings and so-called hybrid animal/human embryos. | |
| The bill itself cannot be subject to a free vote because there are so many other changes we believe are necessary as part of building up the research framework in our country Gordon BrownPrime Minister | |
| In his Easter sermon at the weekend, the leader of the Scottish Catholic Church, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, described the legislation as a "monstrous attack on human rights, human dignity and human life", adding that it would allow experiments of "Frankenstein proportion". In response to Mr Brown's compromise, his spokesman said it was "better late than never", however the bill still contained many "deeply troubling proposals". | |
| Speaking at the launch of Labour's local election campaign, Mr Brown said: "I do believe that in stem cell research we have the power in the future to treat and to cure some of the diseases that have afflicted mankind for centuries." | Speaking at the launch of Labour's local election campaign, Mr Brown said: "I do believe that in stem cell research we have the power in the future to treat and to cure some of the diseases that have afflicted mankind for centuries." |
| Embryonic stem cell research "holds the key" to advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson, cancer and heart disease, he said. | Embryonic stem cell research "holds the key" to advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson, cancer and heart disease, he said. |
| "I have always said that although I attach huge importance to this legislation - to save lives and helping to cure and treat diseases - we respect the consciences of every member of Parliament as they decide how to cast their vote on this," he said. | "I have always said that although I attach huge importance to this legislation - to save lives and helping to cure and treat diseases - we respect the consciences of every member of Parliament as they decide how to cast their vote on this," he said. |
| "On the three issues where, for the first time, these ethical issues are being debated in Parliament in this new way... exercising your conscience will mean for Labour Party members a free vote. | "On the three issues where, for the first time, these ethical issues are being debated in Parliament in this new way... exercising your conscience will mean for Labour Party members a free vote. |
| "But the bill itself cannot be subject to a free vote because there are so many other changes that I believe are necessary as part of building up the research framework of our country and, of course, creating the right ethical framework for the development of embryo research." | "But the bill itself cannot be subject to a free vote because there are so many other changes that I believe are necessary as part of building up the research framework of our country and, of course, creating the right ethical framework for the development of embryo research." |
| Sermons | |
| This means there will not be a free vote on the bill's second or third reading in the Commons. | This means there will not be a free vote on the bill's second or third reading in the Commons. |
| Mr Brown said the government planned to ban so-called "designer babies" and was taking action "to ban in a large number of instances, experimentation with animal embryos". | Mr Brown said the government planned to ban so-called "designer babies" and was taking action "to ban in a large number of instances, experimentation with animal embryos". |
| The potential medical benefits of this research to millions of people with terrible incurable diseases are simply too important for us to allow this debate to descend into a political row Dr Stephen MingerKing's College, London | |
| His compromise offer came after Catholic and Church of England bishops used Easter sermons to demand a free vote, along with pressure from some Labour MPs. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron is allowing his MPs to vote with their conscience on the bill. | |
| But Labour's Claire Curtis Thomas signalled that she would rebel if the controversial measures remained in the bill, saying it was "primarily moral question and at the end of the day, I have to answer to my conscience". | |
| However, fellow Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay welcomed Mr Brown's offer: "This is very welcome and some common sense has now prevailed." | |
| Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said: "I am confident that more opposition MPs will support these measures than Labour MPs opposing them and that there will be a large majority - since I personally support embryo research I welcome that." | |
| Political row | |
| Dr Stephen Minger, director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, King's College, London, welcomed Mr Brown's announcement. | |
| "The potential medical benefits of this research to millions of people with terrible incurable diseases are simply too important for us to allow this debate to descend into a political row," he said. | |
| Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, head of the Genetics Division at the Medical Research Council's National Institute For Medical Research, said he was not against a free vote, as long as "MPs understand what is being proposed in the bill and why". | |
| "However, I would also urge them to take on board the views of their constituents, I suspect the majority of whom would support measures that are designed to contribute to the fight against many debilitating genetic diseases and other serious medical conditions," he said. |