Graphic: Times poll on embryo research

The battle for public support over the creation of human-animal embryos has been won by scientists who want to use the controversial experiments to tackle diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

A poll for The Times reveals today that the contentious medical research enjoys broad public approval, with 50 per cent backing new laws that would permit it and only 30 per cent opposed. The findings undermine claims by critics of the experiments that they enjoy little public support and they will bolster the Government’s attempts to pass the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which begins its passage in the House of Commons next month. MPs of all parties will have a free vote on its provisions for human-animal embryos.

The poll finds much greater scepticism about another section of the Bill, which would remove the legal requirement that infertility clinics consider a child’s need for a father before accepting patients for treatment. This reform is opposed by 40 per cent of people, with just 32 per cent in favour, but is popular with voters aged between 18 and 34.

The results suggest that Gordon Brown may have more trouble passing this measure, on which he has also given his MPs a free vote. His advisers have so far regarded the issue of human-animal embryos as overwhelmingly the most controversial element of the Bill.

The poll, conducted by Populus at the weekend, is the first to examine public opinion on hybrid embryos since Roman Catholic leaders made a concerted attack on the research at Easter. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, attacked the research as involving “experiments of Frankenstein proportion”, which he claimed had no public support.

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,502 adults aged over 18 by telephone between April 4 and 6. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. For more details see www.populus.co.uk.

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