|HOMEPAGE | NEWS | WORLD SERVICE | SPORT | MY BBC||help|
|You are in: Vote2001: Features|
Friday, 1 June, 2001, 11:14 GMT 12:14 UK
Protests in a quiet corner
Animal rights have become one of the issues which rally protesters - nowhere more so than in Huntingdon, writes BBC News Online's Melissa Jackson
Huntingdon can lay claim to at least one famous revolutionary, but long after the death of Cromwell a new cause has emerged to shake this peaceful corner of Cambridgeshire.
The headquarters of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) have become a high profile target for protesters opposed to the company's on-going programme of experiments on animals for the pharmaceuticals industry.
But over the past 18 months there has been a different trend to the attacks as staff and shareholders have found themselves on the receiving end of threats and assaults.
The company's managing director, Brian Cass, needed stitches for a three-inch wound to his head after being attacked outside his home earlier this year.
But this has done nothing to deter protesters who have consistently staged demonstrations outside the premises, where 70,000 animals are used annually for experiments.
One group determined to see off HLS is Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac), which advocates the non-violent campaign tactics of protest and persuasion.
Dying or born again?
Greg Jennings, from Shac, dismisses HLS as "a loss making company".
"HLS is a cancer on the side of Huntingdon and the community - they're dying," he says.
The government has however thrown its weight behind fighting the protesters, allocating a special £1m grant to Cambridgeshire Police to help them bear the cost of dealing with a series of demonstrations.
Mr Straw has made a forceful defence of the industry, saying many people would not be alive today if it was not for the work of companies like HLS.
There is little between the two main parties in this policy area at least, thanks largely to Mr Major.
Tim Yeo, the shadow Agriculture Secretary, won support from the animal welfare lobby when he promised the Tories would, if they won the election, introduce a Protection of Animals Bill to impose curbs on experiments.
But Mr Major lobbied for a softer stance which saw the party revise its policy on animal experiments after he raised fears it could leave scientists open to attack from extremists.
However, the animal rights groups continue their campaign unabated, their sole mission being to bring down HLS. And they claim considerable success after their activities forced the company's shares to plummet.
But they secured an eleventh hour deal with an anonymous backer, which catapulted their stock price into mini orbit.
Shares in the company had hovered around the 3p mark for the past 12 months, but jumped to 23p at the beginning of the year when HLS announced its rescue funding package.
12-month breath space
As if to defy the animal rights activists, it crowed about the package ensuring the company's survival for at least another year.
The future is uncertain though. Animal rights activists have said they will escalate protest actions against both Huntingdon Life Sciences and its customers.
But Brian Cass and his team are defiant that their work will continue.
17 Jan 01 | Business
US bank cuts ties with ailing lab firm
18 Apr 01 | UK
Animal activists 'close to fascism'
18 Jan 01 | UK
A controversial laboratory
31 Jan 01 | UK
Animal activist jailed over threatening letters
20 Jan 01 | UK
Lab protesters launch new campaign
20 Jan 01 | Business
Drug testing lab saved
|^^ Back to top
VOTE2001 | Main Issues| Features | Crucial Seats | Key People | Parties | Results & Constituencies | Candidates | Opinion Polls | Online 1000 | Virtual Vote | Talking Point | Forum | AudioVideo | Programmes | Voting System | Local Elections
Nations: N Ireland | Scotland | Wales
To BBC News>> | To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>>