Political parties, parliamentary lobbies and embryo research

Abstract

Evidence drawn from the parliamentary record, from the scientific press and from the popular press is used as the basis for a description of some of the political processes involved in the lengthy debate over experimentation on human embryos which occurred in the British Parliament during the 1980s. The study examines the balance of support for, and opposition to, embryo research within the two main political parties and shows how this balance altered over the course of the debate. The changing pattern of opposition and support is explained by reference to ideological divisions within the two parties and to the impact of organized campaigns of parliamentary lobbying.