Campaign against embryo bill continues, says SPUC

Westminster, 21st November 2007 - The British government's determination to push forward its radically anti-life embryo bill will continue to be resisted by the pro-life movement, says the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology or HFE Bill was given its 'second reading' in the House of Lords this evening and forthcoming amendments to the bill will be debated by the Lords from 3rd December onwards. The Bill was given an 'unopposed' second reading, i.e. passed without a vote to the next stage.

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, commented: "We are disappointed but unsurprised that both the government and the House of Lords wish to see the bill progress to the next stage. In today's debate profound and intrinsic ethical objections to the Bill's proposals were expressed from across the political spectrum.

"SPUC will continue to urge parliamentarians to reject the bill in principle and as a whole and we will support whatever parliamentary activity is most effective in helping to stop the bill.

"We will be emphasising how advances in ethical alternatives to destructive embryo research make many of the bill's provisions redundant."