The Greens say Labour has left the door open to fur imports
April 19 2005
The government has broken "almost every one" of its animal welfare promises, the Green Party is claiming.
Principal speaker Keith Taylor claims Labour "used animal welfare pledges to get into office in 1997", only to oppose them or fail to implement them.
Labour promised to set up royal commissions on animal experiments and genetically modified animals but did not do so. Labour's "reckless" support for GM, road building and the aviation industry was harming the habitats of "every animal on the planet".
The government's "half-hearted" approach to fur farming and vivisection has "left the door open" to cat and dog fur imports and cosmetics tested on animals.
Green candidates in Leicester joined in the attack. Leicester South candidate Matt Follett said: "The UK has a great reputation as an animal-loving nation , but this is because of the people, not because of the government . Only the Green party has the right approach to animal welfare. Animals are capable of feeling physical pain and mental distress: they deserve to be treated with respect, and protected from cruelty. The Green Party believes that animals have the right to live in safety, without fear or pain caused by human exploitation."
Leicester west candidate Geoff Forse said: " Let's be honest, the Green party is the only party that takes this issue as seriously as it deserves. Our policy is to end all animal experiments, replacing them with more reliable non-animal alternatives. We would also ban live exports and the genetic manipulation of animals."