Yesterday’s Question Time in Canterbury was interesting as the BBC’s premier political programme discussed the importance of animal research. It can currently be viewed from the BBC website.

All four of the panellists (Harriet Harman MP; Ken Clark MP; Simon Hughes MO; and Frederick Forsyth, writer) strongly supported the use of animals for medical research and had either already signed, or planned to sign, the People’s Petition.  It was particularly gratifying to have support from Simon Hughes since he signed previously a petition calling for the abolition of animal experiments.

Hopefully this change means that the LibDems as a whole will become again a more science friendly party - their recent track record indicated that they were in danger of becoming anti-science.

Let us hope the recent acknowledgements of public opinion will encourage more politicians to openly support animal research – at the end of the day they represent the public, and should therefore reflect the opinion of those who elected them.