Hon. Members And Conscience Votes

EDM number 1981 in 2007-08, proposed by Andrew Mackinlay on 08/07/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Medical ethics, Members of Parliament and Parliament.

That this House notes recent calls for the Government to respect the consciences of individual hon. Members and to allow a free vote at Report Stage and Third Reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill; considers that these calls are irrelevant, since no Whip, Prime Minister or prelate can tell an hon. Member what to think; considers that an hon. Member's conscience is precisely that, namely the exclusive property of the holder; recognises that ultimately every vote is a free vote; and believes that there are occasions in the life of every hon. Member, including senior Ministers and those wishing to be senior Ministers, when all have to make a choice between making a stand on principle and deciding to buckle or trim.

This motion has been signed by a total of 20 MPs.