Why is Gordon Brown turning this into such a big issue?

I am baffled, I really am. As I am sure you are aware, in the next few days a bill will come before the Commons in relation to experiments on embryo's. This certainly is a big issue, as it does raise some morality questions, as well as offering the opportunity to make big advances in medical research. However, it is not really a party political issue, is it?

That is why I am really surprised (and slightly confused) that Gordon Brown has imposed a three line whip over this, instructing Labour MPs to vote for the measure. This has really upset many Labour MPs, as Labour has quite a few Catholics in its ranks, quite a few Scottish Catholics, actually, and the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland has certainly come out against this bill. These aren't just ordinary MPs either, there are quite a few ministers who will be put in a difficult situation here.

Last week we had Geoff Hoon informing these uneasy MPs that he would allow them to abstain, which to me just seemed a bit silly, as would abstaining really be enough for devout Catholics? Now Gordon Brown has offered to 'allow' these MPs to vote against, as long as it wont defeat the bill. So, let me get this straight, you will only let them vote against something if their vote will have no bearing on the outcome? How democratic.

I have a couple of issues with this. Firstly, as it is an issue of morality, the whip should never be applied, in my opinion. Secondly, surely someone pointed out to Mr Brown what the outcome of a three line whip would be, before this all became public? If so, does he have a death wish? If not, I think he needs new whips.

But more than anything, what is really bothering me is why he made such a big deal out of this. It is hardly an issue that will set public opinion alight, and 'losing' a free vote is not the end of the world. But now he has turned it into an issue of confidence, for no reason at all. Gordon Brown always talks about his 'moral compass', yet in this case he seems to be oblivious that others might have one, and theirs might point in a direction different to his.