"Overall I'm very optimistic and I think this is a good first step in the direction of allowing some research to move forward, " said Dr. John McDonald, director of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at Washington University School of Medicine in St.

CNN: Reaction mixed to stem cell decision

Others to arrive included Tony Blair's press secretary Alastair Campbell, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, Scottish Secretary Dr John Reid, MSP Margo McDonald, Cardinal Winning, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, and the Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway.

BBC: A nation says goodbye