It is a rare Easter Sunday when the centrepiece of a British religious figure’s public remarks concerns government legislation. But inconsistency and indecision over what Labour MPs might be allowed to do when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill finally reaches the floor of the House of Commons have produced such an outcome. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England, yesterday urged Gordon Brown to allow his party a free vote in the lobbies and by implication hinted that Roman Catholic MPs should oppose the measure. The Prime Minister would be wise not to dismiss this intervention.

The Bill’s most controversial aspects concern the creation of human-animal hybrid or “chimera” embryos. This involves a process in which human DNA would be placed into an animal cell which had been “holed out” to allow it to serve as a host to this material. To describe it as hybrid, let alone a “Frankenstein” entity, as Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, has done, is an exaggeration for three reasons. First, what would emerge would be 99 per cent human in its origins. Secondly, the purpose of this exercise is immediate experimentation, after which the embryo concerned would be discarded. Finally, the overwhelming objective of this, like other provisions in the Bill, is research which would save lives and alleviate suffering.

Yet it would also be a mistake to dismiss ethical concerns about such techniques. There would plainly come a point when such activity would be disturbing and the idea that it would be best not to start upon this path is legitimate. It is a matter of conscience, and for ministers to treat this as if it were the Paperclips Bill is inappropriate. On the two previous occasions when similar measures were proposed, all three of the main parties allowed MPs to vote without being whipped.

There is thus a compelling logic for doing so this time as well. Mr Brown’s manner in dealing with this issue is not helping his cause. It is being suggested that three Cabinet members – Paul Murphy, the Welsh Secretary, Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, and Des Browne, the Defence Secretary – should be allowed special permission to absent themselves from a three-line whip rather than have to resign their offices. One rule for those with red boxes and another for those without them does not look remotely fair. Nor is the argument that a free vote would be fine if there were no chance that the Bill might lose an outstanding endorsement of the character of parliamentary democracy.

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Background

• Cardinal Keith O’Brien attacks embryo Bill

• Cardinal Keith O'Brien branded a 'liar' by Labour peer

• Catholic ministers to be given embryo 'opt-out'

Background

• An embryonic disaster?

• Hope of therapy for Parkinson’s disease

• Matter of Conscience

Background

• Q&A: Human-animal embryo research

• Faith and science answer different questions

• Brown compromise over embryo Bill revolt

• 'We are wrong on embryo Bill'

Related Links

• Cardinal Keith O’Brien attacks embryo Bill

• Give MPs a free vote

• Q&A: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

This is not, despite what Cardinal O’Brien proclaims, a “monstrous” proposal. Stem cell research, in particular, has enormous possibilities and exciting potential. It is right that the United Kingdom should be at the forefront of this scientific endeavour. It would be wrong, nevertheless, for the question not to be debated openly, and ultimately approved because of the sincere will of the majority in the House of Commons rather than the dead hand of the Whip’s office. Mr Brown should also ask himself whether employing the steamroller of party discipline here is remotely compatible with the “new politics” which he insists that he favours. This is a classic example of a needless row. Labour MPs and a section of the electorate are being alienated by ministerial intransigence. Mr Brown should announce a free vote immediately.