OUTGOING Bolton MP Ruth Kelly yesterday criticised the Government for its handling of this week’s controversial vote on abortion and human embryology laws.
In an exclusive interview with the Bolton News, the staunchly Catholic former minister and mum-of-four defended voting against the Government, despite coming under pressure not to, but she said it had nothing to do with her standing down.
“The Embryology Bill is an issue I feel very strongly about,” she said. “It is not the way forward. The Government should not have had it as a whip Bill. There should have been a free vote.”
Ms Kelly said she was disappointed that the bill — which allows experiments on hybrid human-animal embryos and retains the 24-week upper time limit for abortions — was passed but added: “Everyone is entitled to come to their own view and vote accordingly.”
She said the reason behind her decision to resign as Transport Secretary and not to stand for re-election in Bolton West was her family.
She said: “Combining being a minister and an MP with being a mother has not been easy — I will be able to strike a better balance with my family.
Read the full story in today's The Bolton News
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