Blair promoted unethical research in farewell conference speech, says SPUC

Blair promoted unethical research in farewell conference speech, says SPUC Westminster, 26th September 2006 - The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has condemned Tony Blair's endorsement of embryonic stem cell research in his farewell speech to the Labour party conference. Mr Blair said: "America does not want stem cell research, we do, we welcome it here." Mr Blair was referring to embryonic stem cell research, which kills embryonic children in order to extract their stem cells. US President George W. Bush has banned federal funding for such destructive extraction. (The US supports stem cell research using non-embryo tissue.) Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, commented: "Not only does embryonic stem cell research kill innocent human beings at their most vulnerable stage of life, but is increasingly redundant in the light of the frequent advances in ethical alternatives such as adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell research is already benefiting human patients in over 70 conditions, whereas embryonic stem cell research has delivered no benefits. "Embryonic stem cell research receives substantial financial backing from Labour party donors such as Sir Christopher Evans, one of those arrested in the cash-for-honours investigation. Does the Labour party really want to associate itself even more closely in a field which is increasingly under suspicion?"