Nine long years after New Labour came to power, the Government has (finally) made the clearest statement at the highest level that animal research is important, as reported by the BBC.

Before the 1997 general election, the use of animals in research had a much lower profile than today. Anti-vivisection groups had been successful in lobbying for policies to restrict the use of animals in research.

The early years of the Labour government were a tough time for those of us in the scientific community involved in medical research using animals. It soon became clear we had to launch a counter-lobby to demonstrate the overwhelming support from medical and scientific bodies for the continued, but carefully regulated, use of animals in research.

Whilst there was never an intention from Labour to abolish all use of animals in research, within a very short time animal rights activists were already talking about the ‘broken promises’ of New Labour.

Over the past few years, the Government has changed its stance completely. It has now sent out a message of firm and clear commitment to tackling animal rights extremism and supporting life-saving research using animals.

Professor John Martin of University College London was one of the few who were prepared to defend animal research more than a decade ago. He has described his experience as being a ‘lonely journey’. Now that thousands are prepared to stand up and be counted on this issue, hopefully that journey is a little less lonely.