Give us a free vote on Embryo Bill, say Labour MPs
Catholic Labour MPs have demanded that Prime Minister Gordon Brown gives them a free vote on the forthcoming Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
The Bill would make it easier for lesbian couples to use IVF to become parents and includes recognition of same-sex couples as legal parents.
It would also remove the requirement on IVF clinics to be sure that a father is involved in the upbringing of any child he fathers through IVF.
Other elements of the Bill include opening the door to experiments involving human-animal hybrid embryos.
It is expected that all Labour MPs will be whipped to vote in favour of the Government’s Bill.
But the Labour MP for Bootle, Joe Benton, who is also secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, told The Universe: “I am appealing to like-minded people to write to the three party leaders, urging them to allow a free vote on the bill.
“I recently attended a Mass on the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act at Liverpool Cathedral in the presence of Archbishop Kelly. I spoke at the end of the Mass on this proposed legislation and that there is not going to be a free vote.
“I certainly think there should be. There is definitely material there for objections of conscience.”
Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, Geraldine Smith, who is listed as one of the 20 qualifying members of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, agreed, added: “These are matters of conscience and not party political issues.”
The politicians’ comments came as Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, in a letter to The Times, called for MPs to be given a free vote on the issue.
He has now invited all Catholic MPs to a meeting with him to discuss upcoming Parliamentary issues.