UK: Ministers allowed to abstain on embryo bill
Hélène Mulholland
Friday March 7 2008

Members of the government opposed to the controversial human fertilisation and embryology bill will be allowed to abstain from the vote, the chief whip, Geoff Hoon, said today.

The unusual move will prevent cabinet ministers from being faced with the stark choice of opposing the bill, which seeks to bring the regulatory framework for fertility treatment and embryo research up to date with advances in science, or toeing the party line and overriding their conscience.

The Daily Telegraph claimed yesterday that Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary, Des Browne, the defence secretary, and Paul Murphy, the Welsh secretary, were ready to resist orders to vote for the legislation. the rest