London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has finally bowed to pressure from pro-life groups and Catholic Church leaders to allow a free vote on a bill that would allow human cloning. The British Parliament will soon vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that allows the cloning of human-animal hybrids.

"Although I attach huge importance to this legislation, we will respect the conscience of every Member of Parliament as they decide how to cast their vote in this," he said.

Despite the announcement of a free vote on the initial vote taken on the legislation, he confirmed that party whips will pressure members to vote for the bill on its second and third readings.

The idea behind the change in strategy appears to be one of allowing members to vote against the bill initially and, once Brown can show the bill has enough votes to pass, requiring them to side with it on subsequent votes.

Some MPs suggested Brown did not initially favor a free vote on the cloning bill out of a concern it wouldn't pass.

Over the Easter weekend, Brown came under fire from several Christian leaders, including Scotland Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien.

During a Resurrection Day sermon, O'Brien criticized Brown for not allowing members of his Labour Party to have a free vote on the bill.

"It seems that Labour MPs are not to be allowed a free vote on this Bill and, consequently, are denied the right to vote according to their conscience - a right which all other political parties have allowed," he said.

Brown previously indicated he would allow pro-life MPs to abstain but not vote against the cloning bill.

Members of the Conservative Party will have a conscience vote and will not be held to the party's position.