And the votes are in

[removeduser_426582376423734]

1. Permit the licensing of human/animal admixed embryos
Con: against (54%)
Lab: for (78%)
LDem: for (73%)

2. Permit the creation of true hybrids
Con: against (80%)
Lab: for (77%)
LDem: for (53%)

3. Permit genetically engineered hybrids
Con: against (62%)
Lab: for (78%)
LDem: for (63%)

4. Permit embryo sex selection to prevent the wider range of diseases
Con: against (76%)
Lab: for (91%)
LDem: for (68%)

5. Permit genetic testing to select saviour siblings
Con: against (57%)
Lab: for (81%)
LDem: for (78%)

6. Permit saviour siblings in the wider range of cases
Con: against (77%)
Lab: for (81%)
LDem: for (59%)

AVERAGE VOTES CAST IN FAVOUR OF RESEARCH
Con: against (68%)
Lab: for (81%)
LDem: for (66%)

Notes:

The figures are all percentages of votes cast - over a hundred MPs didn't turn up.

My descriptions of the implications of each amendment is necessarily subjective but I've tried to be as plain and simple as I can in choosing the words.

Also I've reversed the meaning of the amendments and votes to make them easier to understand, so if you do follow the above link, be aware that the amendments as presented in Parliament were actually all about stopping this stuff rather than permitting it.


Political Commentary:

Declaration of interest - I'm a member of the Lib Dems. Take with a pinch of salt.

All three parties had free votes. Even on free votes some MPs in a party of government will follow-the-leader in the hope of favours, so I suspect that in opposition the Labour vote would have been lower. Gordon Brown voted in favour of research in all six votes.

The numbers are hard to pin down, but on balance Labour and the Lib Dems are probably equally progressive on this subject for the reason explained above. Nick Clegg voted in favour of research in all six votes.

A Conservative government would never have proposed this legislation. Cameron was an interesting exception, and I suspect he will be gritting his teeth at the work that lies ahead of him in bringing his party out of the 19th century. He voted in favour of admixed embryos in the first division, but didn't vote at all in the rest. Is this because he scarpered when he realised his party was voting the other way? I don't know. I do know that in those days, Blair would have led from the front, stuck it out and shamed his own party.


IVF LATEST
Discrimination by sexual orientation defeated by 290 to 222 votes. Clinics must give consideration to "supportive parenting", not "the need for a father".

ABORTION LATEST
Time limit remains 24 weeks = no change.

So although Labour don't seem the party to back neither do the Conservatives. What's Clegg doing these days?

[Freddie]

over a hundred MPs didn't turn up

Bunch of free loading tossers, had this been a vote on an unimportant issue or class issue such as fox hunting I bet every damn MP would have shown up.

[VALIS]

Bunch of free loading tossers, had this been a vote on an unimportant issue or class issue such as fox hunting I bet every damn MP would have shown up.

A vast majority of MP's have no real personal interest in real policies anymore. They will turn up for a forced whip vote but when it comes to a free vote they show they don't really have principles. Theres a great article in the Mail today that slightly touches upon this in the first few paragraphs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...elievers-.html

Most politicians nowadays aren't great parliamentarians interested in the state of this country, they are 'careerists' only driven by money and an increase in social status.

[Каие]

Good to know the Conservatives take their marching orders form the catholic church.

[The Super Pope]

This thread seems to suggest that if a party doesn't agree with you then they are stuck in the 19th century, despite the fact that some of those issues are rather dubious, and others paticularly the IVF sexual discrimination need full discussion

[LoZz]

it was a free vote. and while i am sure most of us did indeed support the hybrid stuff, i think the abortion and particulary the no need for fathers in ivf treatment is a bit more of a devided issue.


i am slightly shocked that so many cons voted against the hybrid stuff

[Tusk]

Duke would you like to be an MP?

[Каие]

The cons voted majority against everything.