Right and left for an imal rights A n unlikely alliance A n unlikely alliance
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was formed in London last week to launch a campaign to boycott ferry companies which ship live animals for slaughter.
Former Tory Trade and Defence Minister Alan Clark was joined by Labour's Anita Pollock MEP and Tony Banks MP to call for a consumer and business boycott of P&O, Stena Sealink and Brittany Ferries. Pollock is the president of the European Parliament's Animal Welfare Group; the new initiative is called Respect for Animals.
The organisation claims to have support from Sally Ferries, Hoverspeed and Eurotunnel which do not carry live animals (this is hardly surprising as Hoverspeed is dedicated to passenger carriage and the Tunnel is not allowed to carry livestock).
No matter. Clark is no stranger to animals rights issues: he opposes all blood sports and is a committed vegetarian. Famously, Margaret Thatcher once asked him why, if this was so, he chose to wear leather shoes. "My dear Margaret," Clark replied, "surely you wouldn't want your ministers to be seen in plastic shoes?" It is not known whether the raffish Romeo would like to see the ferry companies horsewhipped.