British researchers are awaiting the outcome of a Parliamentary free vote this month on whether they will be permitted to carry out embryo research using somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques. Although such research has considerable support within government, the specter of political opposition was raised at the end of October with the substantial defeat of a private members bill introduced into the House of Commons that would allow it to proceed.

Another blow came on 14 November, when the ethics advisory commission to the European Commission (EC) issued a report stating that permitting the creation of embryos by such techniques for the stem cell therapy was “premature.”

The EC believes that in a “highly sensitive matter,” such as the creation of embryos for research purposes, it is not sufficient to consider the end result of alleviating human suffering, but that the means employed need also to be considered. “In particular, the hopes of regenerative medicine are still very speculative and debated among scientists,” says the report, adding, “there is a wide field of research to be carried out with alternative sources of human stem cells from spare embryos, fetal tissues and adult stem cells.”

The British government has already signaled its support for embryonic stem cell research (Nature Med. 9, 950; 2000). Additional backing has come from a range of scientific bodies. The Royal Society, for example, issued a statement to Members of Parliament on 7 November describing the extension of current UK laws, which permit research on embryos up to 14 days old for certain purposes, to cover research aimed at stem cell therapies as “highly desirable.”

“MPs should accept that this research on early embryos is scientifically necessary if we are to ensure that patients benefit from the full range of potential treatments as quickly as possible,” said Richard Gardner of the University of Oxford, the main author of the Royal Society statement, in a meeting at Westminster.

A similar case was made the previous week by Euan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West, that would have allowed such research to take place in Britain. But Harris' proposal was strongly opposed by conservative MP Edward Leigh, a prominent anti-abortion politician, who objected to the research on three grounds: that it was unethical, that it was unnecessary, given the prospect of using adult stem cells, and that it could pave the way to human cloning.

“[We] reject the claim by past totalitarian societies that medical research could put the interests of society over those of the individual,” said Leigh. His position, which was backed by a number of MPs who said that they have received many times more letters expressing this `pro-life' point of view than endorsing the research, prevailed by a vote of 175 votes to 83.

It remains to be seen in the face of such opposition both at home and in Europe, the government will be prepared to stick to its guns and offer a free vote as promised—or take fright and postpone any Parliamentary debate until after the general election expected next year.