Fight for horses goes to No 10

Animal welfare campaigners say they have a strong case

Animal welfare campaigners say they are confident they can persuade Tony Blair to keep a ban on the live export of horses from the UK to Europe.

They were speaking after TV writer Carla Lane handed in a petition with 60,000 signatures urging him to help.

Compassion in World Farming fears proposed new EU regulations could put the UK's ban on the export of live horses for slaughter in jeopardy.

"It will be difficult to ignore the concerns of so many people," they say.

At the same time as the petition was handed in to Downing Street, 25 European farm animal welfare groups were staging a demonstration outside the European Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels.

'Terrible suffering'

Paul Hook, CIWF's deputy political director, said his colleagues had been working closely with the International League for the Protection of Horses to lobby for government help.

There is a real risk that under the current EU proposal, British pets nearing the end of their lives, ponies from Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest, and possibly even old racehorses, will all become part of this cruel trade Paul Hook Compassion in World Farming

"The British people have got a very special relationship with horses and it is very clear that people do not want to see our horses exported live to the continent for slaughter," he said.

"Today was about making sure that message gets across to the British government.

"We are confident we have got a strong case and these voices will make the difference.

"We want to ensure the current ban on the export of British horses and ponies to be slaughtered for meat is maintained."

Overcrowding

He stressed: "Over 100,000 live horses and ponies are currently transported across Europe for slaughter every year, mostly from Eastern Europe to Italy, often on horrendously long journeys of anything up to 90 hours.

"They suffer terribly - CIWF investigations have revealed that they are packed into overcrowded trucks, often deprived of adequate food, water and rest, with many injured and some dying en route.

Risk that race horses could become horse meat, say protesters

"There is a real risk that under the current EU proposal, British pets nearing the end of their lives, ponies from Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest, and possibly even old racehorses, will all become part of this cruel trade."

New EU laws designed to improve the conditions for transported animals remove exemptions allowing individual member states to prohibit live exports.

This could mean the UK being forced to abandon its current arrangements, which by setting a minimum value on live horse exports, acts as a de facto ban.

The 60,000 signatures were gathered in a campaign run by the South West regional newspaper, the Western Morning News, which it says prompted letters from thousands of readers.