I will vote no to embryo freezing

Labour MP Adrian Vassallo, who said he would step down from politics at the end of this legislature, will until then remain loyal to his party in Parliament except if asked to vote on embryo freezing. If MPs were asked to approve the practice of embryo freezing in the upcoming IVF legislation, he would vote against, he told The Times yesterday. “I will remain loyal as I always have. The only time I voted against what the party wanted, was on divorce. But if we are asked to vote on embryo freezing, whether there is a free vote or not, I will vote no.” Dr Vassallo, a medical doctor well known for his conservative stands on social issues, was the only Labour MP to vote against divorce. Although Dr Vassallo had been told he had a free vote, Dr Muscat later said those who voted against divorce would face “consequences”. This was the “last straw” or Dr Vassallo, who even supported Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s decision to vote against divorce legislation, despite it having been approved in a referendum. “Dr Muscat basically told voters that if I contest the election they should kick me down,” Dr Vassallo said. He added that his party had put “indirect pressure” on him and Labour MP...