Ruth Kelly wins battle with Gordon Brown to avoid vote on embryos

Ruth Kelly has won her fight with Gordon Brown to miss a crucial vote allowing the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos.

The Transport Secretary has persuaded the Prime Minister to let her go to Brussels to attend meetings with EU officials when MPs vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill next week.

A devout Roman Catholic, she had made it plain she would vote against the Bill  -  a move which would have forced the Prime Minister to sack her.

Mrs Kelly was one of three Catholic Cabinet ministers who forced Mr Brown to offer a free vote on three aspects of the Bill.

These were the creation of hybrid embryos, allowing saviour siblings, and removing the requirement for fertility doctors to consider the need for a father when authorising IVF.

Mrs Kelly voted against all three but part of the deal was that the ministers would vote in favour of the whole bill at its final reading.

While the two other rebellious Cabinet ministers - Defence Secretary Des Browne and Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy - will vote in favour of the Bill, Mrs Kelly will be allowed to absent herself from the House for the crucial vote, expected at 10pm on July 14.

She will be in Brussels, lobbying on behalf of car manufacturers such as Landrover and Jaguar who are worried about new rules forcing them to reduce emissions from their new models.

It is highly unusual for a senior cabinet member to handle such negotiations. Usually a junior minister would be sent.

The move is likely to anger other Catholic Labour MPs who will be expected to vote in favour of the Bill.