Gordon Brown is facing a mass revolt ahead of the debate over the controversial Bill regarding plans for Embryo research.

 

The Bill which allows the creation of part-human, part-animal embryos for medical research has met stiff opposition from the Catholic Church. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales insisted that Labour MPs should be allowed a free vote.

 

Catholic Ministers such as Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy and others of distinct faith should, he said, ‘be guided by their beliefs.’ However a coalition of medical charities have written to MPs urging them to support the controversial legislation.

 

It is thought that Brown will employ a three line whip to ensure that the Government gets the desired result however this has been heavily criticised by Conservative leader David Cameron, who said ‘I will be giving my members a free vote. . . and Gordon Brown should have made this decision weeks ago.’ Cameron defended the rights of the Church to make their opinions heard but attacked claims that this bill was purely about the removal of fathers from the child bearing process insisting that this is an ‘issue of conscious and a moral issue.’ Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has also insisted that his MPs will be given a free vote.

 

By denying his MPs a free vote the Prime Minister would be ignoring the suggestions of the joint select committee of MPs and peers set up to examine and scrutinise the legislation before it came to the debating stage in the House of Commons.

 

However Health Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday said, ‘We will ensure within reason that sensitivities are respected,’ and denied claims that the Government were stalling insisting that this was normal ‘Parliamentary process.’

 

Although this is a controversial issue recent polls show that 79% of the public agree with the Bill which is set to be discussed in the Commons this week.