Ruth Kelly will support government policy on embryonic stem cell research

Ruth Kelly, the UK's recently appointed Minister for Education, has confirmed that she supports the government's policy on embryonic stem cell (ES cell) research and other issues, despite being a member of the 'ultra-orthodox' Catholic Opus Dei prelature. Since becoming Education Secretary, Ms Kelly has faced increasing pressure to reveal where she stands on issues such as ES cell research and abortion, especially after it was discovered that she has links to Opus Dei. Yesterday, however, she told BBC Radio 4, during a section on how to deal with disruptive pupils, that she put the doctrine of collective cabinet responsibility ahead of the doctrines of her faith.

In the UK, ES cell research was regulated by an amendment made to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act in December 2000, when the government voted to allow ES cell research for a wide range of purposes.

As education secretary, Ms Kelly has responsibility for millions of pounds of government funding a year for research into ES cells, which the Catholic Church traditionally opposes, because it involves the destruction of embryos. Ms Kelly said yesterday that she stood by the government's decision to promote and fund the research and, because the decision was made collectively by the cabinet, she would not detract from it. 'We have a 10-year science strategy, we have a policy toward stem cell research. I completely accept that that is the government policy and I stand by it', she said, adding that 'the position I hold is one I have made absolutely clear, that I am a member of this government and I will not only stand by the policies of this government, but also, where I am responsible for implementing them, I will implement them as well'.

Making her position on the matter clear, Ms Kelly told the BBC: 'I, as a politician, have a right to a private life, just as any other politician has'. But, she added, 'I want to make it absolutely clear that, while I bring my own views to the table, I am also completely committed to the doctrine of collective responsibility which applies around the cabinet table'.