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Blair takes stand on animal tests

 

GSK works with the medical research lab Huntingdon Life Sciences

Tony Blair has defended animal testing and accused anti-vivisection

extremists of stooping to " appalling " depths.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said companies with links to animal

testing may be allowed to keep details of their shareholders secret.

 

Mr Blair said he would also sign a pro-animal testing petition in a stand

against a " tiny group of extremists " .

 

He said threats against GlaxoSmithKline shareholders showed why those in

medical research had to be protected.

 

Mr Blair's support has been widely welcomed by the science community.

 

But other animal rights activists have criticised the prime minister's

stance.

 

The Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said Mr Blair was " absolutely clear "

people should not be " bullied out of progress " .

 

He told the BBC's Sunday AM programme: " He's very, very keen that what

happens is that science be judged on the basis of evidence not prejudice. "

 

'Life-saving research'

 

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline was targeted because of its work with the

medical research laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences.

 

Mr Blair wrote: " The appalling details of the campaign of intimidation -

which include grave-robbing - show the depths to which the animal extremists

are prepared to stoop.

 

" The letter writing campaign just launched against GlaxoSmithKline

shareholders shows why we must step up efforts to support and protect

individuals and companies engaged in life-saving medical research. "

 

The planned Company Law Reform Bill would offer them more protection, the

prime minister said.

 

There is no place for intimidation and violence in this process

 

Investment firms' joint statement

s would be able to keep their home addresses private and firms could

refuse to disclose its shareholders.

 

Mr Blair said that British scientists and companies made a " huge

contribution to human health and well-being " , while creating thousands of

highly-skilled jobs.

 

He also said he would sign the People's Petition in support of animal

testing in the UK, saying he wanted people to " stand up against the tiny

group of extremists threatening medical research and advances in this

country " .

 

But Alistair Currie, Campaign Director for the British Union for the

Abolition of Vivisection, said the prime minister was " backing the wrong

horse " .

 

" The reality is that animal experimentation is old-fashioned science - it

may have been useful 50 years ago but in the 21st century we have a lot of

techniques that we can use instead, " he said.

 

'Benefit of society'

 

Seven big investment firms have voiced support for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

 

In a letter to the Financial Times, the firms - each with billions invested

in the health sector - pledged to maintain their stake in the drug group.

HAVE YOUR SAY

I accept that certain animal tests are needed. But it is morally

wrong to profit from these tests, which are basically an abuse of life

 

David, Notts

 

 

Send us your comments

 

Police are investigating the anonymous letters from the previously unknown

Campaign Against Huntingdon Life Sciences, sent to at least 50 shareholders.

 

They threaten to reveal investors' names and addresses on the internet if

they did not sell their shares within a fortnight.

 

GSK obtained an injunction earlier this week against the campaigners.

 

It said it would continue to work with Huntington Life Sciences despite the

threats, and urged anyone sent a threatening letter to report it to the

police.

 

In the letter to the FT, the funds said they would not allow animal rights

extremists to bully them into selling their substantial shareholdings in

firms " legitimately engaged in lawful research to the benefit of society " .

 

The letter to the newspaper said: " Whilst we understand the genuine concerns

of animal welfare groups and support moves to reduce, refine and replace the

use of animals in medicines research, there is no place for intimidation and

violence in this process. "

 

Scientists' support

 

Lord Robert Winston, of Imperial College London, said: " I am delighted that

the prime minister is strongly supporting an endeavour that is entirely

humane, ethical and legal and vitally important to the health and wellbeing

of people all over the world. "

 

Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council

and himself a victim of animal rights activists, said: " On behalf of medical

researchers, who live in fear of such intimidation, I thank Tony Blair for

his personal courage in declaring his support for the use of animals in

research, when there is no alternative. "

 

The British Heart Foundation's professor of cardiovascular science, John

Martin, said it had been " a lonely experience against a powerful lobby

involving very few fanatics " when he started conducting heart disease

research using animals.

 

But NHS patients had gradually voiced their public support of such research.

 

" This new popular movement has culminated with the prime minister himself,

who has been a patient, supporting the cause of science and sanity, " he

said.

 

Mr Blair's comments come days after four animal rights activists were jailed

in a case related to the illegal exhumation of the body of a woman whose

family bred guinea pigs for use in animal experiments.