Sunday 7 September 2008

Will Ruth Kelly Resign?

To vote against the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

She will go up in my estimation if she does. And I already held a higher view of her than many others did. She has never actually voted for abortion or such like. We may not lightly give up the opportunity to do good in a particular position of power. And First Past The Post leaves no room for preciousness.

But some things really are precious. Sometimes abstention simply will not do. Sometimes it will only do to turn up and vote against. And if the chance to speak against is also afforded by a resignation from the Cabinet, then, as was shown by Robin Cook, it must be grabbed with both hands.

The United Kingdom may yet hear from Ruth Kelly the woman politician’s passionate and brilliant defence of life that, it must be said, the United States pointedly did not hear from Sarah Palin.

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