We are sure Sir Paul McCartney enjoys his celebrity status. It’s a shame that he continues to abuse it to campaign against the use of animals in research. Whilst McCartney may have been a great musician, that does not make him a great scientist. His statement that animal research is “a holdover from the dark age of medical science” is clearly not based on any particular expertise or insight.

McCartney had previously recognised that some animal testing is necessary, but seems to have subsequently gone back on that position.

What irritates us about this whole affair is that his wife, Heather Mills McCartney, an amputee, has just undergone major and complicated surgery called “revision amputation” which involves re-attaching muscle tissue to her bone. The procedure was developed and refined in animal models.

Sir Paul’s first wife received extensive treatment for breast cancer which was developed and then tested at least partly in animals. Apparently she was not told that animals were involved in developing her medicines because no one wanted to upset her. What is Sir Paul playing at?