Sarah Palin’s elevation to become John McCain’s nominee for vice-president serves as a reminder that what Americans call their “culture wars” are rarely as fierce in old Europe. It is hard to imagine a British candidate promoting the virtues of shotgun teenage marriage. Not lately, anyway. But in an understated British way, sincere feelings can still run high. They did on both sides yesterday as MPs voted not to discuss pro-abortion amendments during the remaining Commons stages of the human embryology and fertilisation bill. Vocally pro-choice MPs were furious that Harriet Harman - of all people - should be the leader of the Commons to engineer the sidestepping vote. Equally ardent pro-life MPs, as opponents of legal abortion call themselves, were quietly relieved. When they used the bill to try to reduce the legal limit on abortion (currently 24 weeks) they were defeated in the Commons in May.
Ministers attacked for blocking abortion debate - The Guardian 22nd October 2008
MPs fear legal loophole in embryology bill could pave the way for human-ape hybrids - Daily Mail 23rd October 2008
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