UK:GORDON BROWN yesterday succumbed to pressure from the Catholic Church and some cabinet colleagues to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the most controversial parts of the embryo research bill, write PATRICK WINTOUR, NICK WATTand JAMES RANDERSONin London.
Facing accusations of dithering in the face of an increasingly vituperative campaign over the past five days, Mr Brown made his decisions following talks with health secretary Alan Johnson after the morning cabinet meeting.
MPs will be given a free vote on three sections of the bill, including allowing scientists to create embryos with human DNA and animal cells; whether fertility clinics should be barred from refusing treatment to single women and lesbians; and on creating a child with the correct tissue match to save a sick brother or sister.
MPs will be expected to vote for the bill as a whole on the third reading even if the controversial measures are included.
Mr Johnson urged Mr Brown to allow a free vote, pointing out that it is highly unlikely that any of the three controversial measures will be defeated and that it was important that the issue be resolved as soon as possible to allow proper discussion of the case for the bill.
The whips' office was slow in deciding how the issue would be handled, largely because the bill would not reach the House of Commons for up to two months.
Number 10 said ministers would be expected to back the overall bill at second and third reading, even if the three controversial measures had been retained. Mr Brown also spoke to the three cabinet members most likely to oppose the measures, Des Browne, the defence secretary, the transport secretary, Ruth Kelly, and Paul Murphy, the Welsh secretary.
Ms Kelly said she welcomed the decision, as did Mr Murphy. Stephen Pound, a leading Catholic Labour MP, said between 30 and 50 Labour MPs believed it should be a completely free-conscience bill.
The Catholic Church in Scotland, the most outspoken opponent of the bill, reacted cautiously. "A free conscience is very qualified and very limited if you can exert it one week and not the next," a spokesman said.
Until yesterday's decision, Mr Brown had suggested Labour MPs might be able to abstain but not vote against the bill. He made the concession yesterday saying: "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.
"I have always said that although I attach huge importance to this legislation - to save lives and help to cure and treat diseases - we respect the consciences of every member of parliament as they decide how to cast their vote on this. But 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."
Embryonic stem cell research "holds the key" to advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer and heart disease, he said.- (Guardian service)