EDITOR'S CHOICE THURROCK NEWS £250,000 revamp unveiled at Tilbury school Getting ready to ride: Thurrock Cycle Marathon 2008 Bus mum celebrates tots free fares victory Goldfrapp booty up for grabs SPORT Two sign for Grays Athletic ELECTION 2008 Election 2008 Guide LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Stanford Forum says thanks for big Masterplan response C'est le vie says deposed Gordon Questioning police priorities GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Doors boost for Coalhouse Fort 2 Anti-social behaviour issues in Thurrock discussed at special conference 3 West Ham star draws record crowds to Grays 4 Thurrock pupils raise £2,000 for children's hospital 5 Thameside School banks on playground spruce up 6 Chester steps up to take the reins at Tilbury 7 Coach park market plan recommended for refusal by Thurrock councillors 8 Rudy's birthday ride down length of Britain 9 Tribute to one time Dockers keeper Fred 10 Tilbury boss resigns Today | 7 Days 1 Help for borough's eastern Europeans 2 Max still unconscious 10 days after attack 3 Changing face of the BNP 4 Why no stink about the stink? 5 Bus mum celebrates tots free fares victory 6 Minister tells of crackdown on firms who employ illegal immigrants 7 Controversial Tilbury wind turbines plan recommended for approval 8 Cakes survive bakery fire as clean up operation begins 9 Shop thief tried to take advantage of town fire 10 Come up with facts councillor!

Comment | Read Comments (1)

CRITICAL OF MINISTERS: Andrew Mackinlay

THURROCK'S MP has hit out at his own Government as the controversy over the Embryo Bill spilled over.p>

Andrew Mackinlay accused Whips of being "completely out of touch" in the way they were trying to force Catholic MPs to vote against their conscience.

However, it has now emerged the Government had backed down and would allow a free vote to MPs who opposed the measures as being contrary to their religious beliefs.

Mr Mackinlay, himself a Catholic, was among a number of Labour backbenchers who had raised concerns about the way the Government was handling legislation over the creation of human-animal hybrids for medical research.

Mr Mackinlay said: "A growing number of Labour MPs are dismayed and frustrated by Ministers' lack of political antennae. They are completely out of touch."

Mr Mackinlay said Brown was risking a revolt from a large number of Labour MPs.

He referred to Government Chief Whip Geoff Hoon's offer to Labour MPs to write to him and ask to be excused from voting on religious or ethical grounds when it comes before the Commons as "absurd, unbelievably naive and an insult to the intelligence."

Earlier this month Mr Mackinlay was among 40 MPs, including Castle Point MP Bob Spink, who signed an open letter voicing concern about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's decision to grant licences for research using animal-human cytoplasmic hybrid embryos before Parliament has decided on the issue.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson confirmed "accommodation" had been reached which meant Labour's Catholic MPs will not have to vote against their conscience in the passage of the Government's controversial legislation on embryo research.

Mr Johnson's comment came as Britain's most senior Roman Catholic clergy - including Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor - united to call on the Prime Minister to grant his MPs a free vote.

The Health Secretary insisted the Cabinet was not split over the Bill, contrary to reports that two ministers were unhappy.

Mr Johnson said: "I believe once we have discussed all these issues and seen all the safeguards in the Bill, that there will not be a split, but there will be an accommodation for those who have a particular sensitivity around this, including those whose sensitivity relates to their faith."

8:20pm Sunday 23rd March 2008

Print

Email this

Comment