LONDON - 14 May 2008 - 520 words
Poll shows PM risks unpopularity by rushing through Embryology Bill
A new ComRes poll commissioned on behalf
of CORE (Comment on Reproductive Ethics) released today shows
that almost eight in ten people (77%) believe that the Government
risks making itself more unpopular if it forces the controversial
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill through Parliament without
allowing more time for people to have a proper say over the moral
issues it raises.
The gravity of the Prime Minister's predicament is further underlined
by another poll finding that fewer than four in ten people (38%)
trust Gordon Brown to listen to the views of people on controversial
issues and not rush through Parliament laws such as the one to
allow laboratory experiments on mixed human-animal embryos. The
same poll reveals that 70% of people think one of Gordon Brown's
biggest problems is that he doesn't listen to what the electorate
is saying. The findings come less than a fortnight after the PM's
pledge to listen and lead following the local elections and just
days after the announcement in Parliament that MPs will be given
only three hours to debate the contentious issue of mixed human-animal
embryos, as part of their detailed consideration of the Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It also coincides with polls
that suggest the Conservatives could be on course to take Crewe
and Nantwich in the by-election due in 10 days' time.
The Prime Minister's decision effectively to curtail debate runs
counter to what the new ComRes poll shows people actually want.
In fact, eight in ten people (79%) would like to see the Government
allow more time to give the public more of a say before it rushes
the Bill through parliament.
In a further clear demonstration of how important people feel
the controversial issues around laboratory experiments on mixed
human-animal embryos are, six in ten people (59%) believe that
MPs should be allowed a genuine free vote throughout the Bill's
consideration by Parliament. Yet the PM has decided that Labour
MPs are only to be allowed a free vote at Committee Stage and
then only on the most contentious issues, which includes human-animal
hybrid embryos. Even if amendments are voted through by enough
MPs at Committee Stage, the PM's decision to enforce a three-line
whip in the Bill's later stages means that any MPs who had supported
amendments in committee would then be ordered to vote to overturn
their own amendments or face dismissal from the government (if
a Minister) and a dressing-down from the Chief Whip.
The poll also shows that a full 70% of people think changing the
law to allow controversial laboratory experiments on mixed human-animal
embryos should only be considered after all uncontroversial methods
using adult stem cells have been exhausted.
Josephine Quintavalle of CORE said: "This new ComRes poll
shows that people are growing increasingly angry that Gordon Brown
is forcing this hugely contentious Bill through parliament at
breakneck speed without listening to them and his own MPs. The
issues it raises, such as those around human-animal embryos, deserve
extensive debate. People want debate. And yet Gordon Brown seems
determined to deny them and his own MPs anything but the most
deliberately restricted opportunities to have that debate.
"I don't understand why, only days before a by-election,
Gordon Brown would want to risk courting greater unpopularity
in this way. The ComRes poll findings couldn't be clearer: almost
eight in ten people (77%) believe that the Government risks making
itself more unpopular by letting the controversial Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Bill go through Parliament without allowing more
time for people to have a proper say over the moral issues it
raises. Surely, this is the moment for him to show he is keeping
his pledge to listen and to lead. The clear message is that people
(79%) want him to allow more time for MPs to debate the highly
contentious issues around mixed human-animal embryos. They (59%)
also want him to give Labour MPs a free vote at every stage of
this Bill. I really wonder what people will think of his pledge
to listen if he carries on as planned and effectively ignores
what the public clearly wants by allowing MPs only three hours
to discuss the issues and then only one opportunity for a free
vote."
She added: "The findings of this ComRes poll demonstrate
that people feel the Prime Minister faces a real challenge not
just in persuading voters that he's listening, but also that they
can actually trust him to listen. The poll shows that right now
only 38% trust him to listen to them on controversial issues and
not rush the Bill though Parliament. A full 70% of people believe
changing the law to allow controversial laboratory experiments
on mixed human-animal embryos should only be considered after
all uncontroversial methods using adult stem cells have been exhausted.
Yet my concern is that this Bill is being steamrollered through
in a way that completely fails to take that into account and actually
undermines people's confidence in parliamentary democracy. I think
that's really worrying given how strongly people feel about the
issues at stake. I therefore call on the Prime Minister to use
these poll findings as an opportunity to reassure people that
he is listening by allowing MPs more time to debate the Bill and
a free vote at every stage."
Key findings:
70% AGREE that 'changing the law to allow controversial laboratory
experiments on mixed human-animal embryos should only be considered
after all uncontroversial methods using adult stem cells have
been exhausted'
79% AGREE the Government 'should allow more time to give he public
more of say before it rushes through Parliament its proposed law
to allow laboratory experiments on mixed human-animal embryos'
© Independent Catholic News 2008
Contact Independent
Catholic News tel/fax:
+44 (0)20 7267 3616 or email
Chaplain • Latest news • Archive • Listings • Pictures •