Tories call for free vote on embryos

Gordon Brown has been urged to give MPs a free vote over controversial measures in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Speaking at prime minister's questions in the Commons, David Cameron said there was a "strong case" for more free votes in Parliament and an "unanswerable case" for free votes on matters of conscience.

The Conservative leader asked Gordon Brown why votes on issues of conscience were whipped when the Bill went through the Lords, and why the prime minister's spokesman had indicated it would not be subject to a free vote when it reached the Commons.

Brown said that one potential amendment to the Bill, relating to abortion, would be subject to a free vote in the Commons "as is absolutely normal".

'Cross-party'

He pointed out that the Bill had emerged from a cross-party committee of both houses, and said: "We will make a decision about the way votes will take place on that in due course."

Cameron said the government had told its peers how to vote on measures relating to the production of hybrid human animal embryos, the requirement for IVF clinics to have regard for a child's need for a father, and the circumstances under which 'saviour siblings' could be created.

These were all whipped votes, the Tory leader said, and "they shouldn't have been".

Brown said he wanted to make it "absolutely clear that we respect the conscience of every member of the House in this matter".

Clegg

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called on the prime minister to get "big money" out of British politics to prevent "influence and power being controlled by cash".

Clegg accused Brown of "doing nothing" on the issue, saying: "Both he and the Conservatives are so busy in protecting their own vested interests that they won't do what's right for Britain."

Brown said there should be "a limit on election expenditure and it should be properly enforced and it should be lower than the previous limit. There should also be a limit on donations".

"I believe there should be transparency in politics and all the information should be published," he told MPs.

"There should be limits on national election in expenditure, there should be limits on individual donations and there should be greater transparency."