In a unique move by a sitting Prime Minister, Tony Blair added his own name to the People's Petition in May 2006.
"The People's Petition I am signing allows the public to express their support for animal testing for medical research under the strictest conditions and is another example of the determination of the public and organisations to make a stand. Hundreds of millions of people in the UK and around the world today are alive and healthy because of the pioneering work of our scientists and researchers. Many millions more will be spared an early death or a life of pain because of the research now under way. They deserve our support. And they should get it."
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister
"Without such treatments many of the people I love would be dead. Don't let extremists win."
Posted by: Richard Ashby, Leeds
"Entirely agree, and I hope people may begin to realise that animal testing is essential for the continuation of medical research. "
Posted by: jed, burton
"Im just glad that people are finally standing up for their right to support animal testing.."
Posted by: Roxanne Johnson, Somerset
"Responsible science should be given the democratic freedom to work towards advances for all mankind."
Posted by: Matthew Burroughs, Northants
"Please keep up the good work.Thank you for what you are doing."
Posted by: Francis Gwyn Jones, Wales
"I think this movement is great, a breath of fresh air"
Posted by: matthew snowling, sheffield
"I'm so pleased someone is standing up for animal research, I commend this petition."
Posted by: Anthony Rice, Derby
"I think it is very important that animal research takes place"
Posted by: Dr. Christopher Cook, Surrey
"I believe that people involved in animal research have the right to live and work in peace with out fear. "
Posted by: Andrea Burdon, Middlesbrough
"I suffer from motor neurone disease and as i was a builder before i had to give up work my support goes out to the people building the new facilities in oxford. I would like to see the low lifes protesting against animal testing spend a day in my body."
Posted by: martin forsdyke, essex
"Thankyou so much for standing up for this. Keep up the good work!"
Posted by: Dave, Cambridge
"We should of course seek to minimise the use of animals in research. However, for the forseable future there will still be a need to use animals in medical research. "
Posted by: Tom Brake MP, Wallington
"I feel strongly about this issue and will be delivering a soapbox speech on the subject in school soon. This website and the links have helped me greatly, so thanks! Together we can win the campaign for vital animal testing!"
Posted by: Emma Rogers, Surrey
"Animal testing is an essential part of the production of safe and effective pharmaceutical and veterinary chemicals. The researchers in this field should be thanked, not intimidated."
Posted by: Antoine Vigneau, Aberdeen
"It's good to see reasonable pro-test activism. We must prove that we do not sink as low as the hypocritical groups that so oppose what is an entirely reasonable process."
Posted by: Alex, Medway Towns
"i think it is necessary for animal testing without it we would not have had many of the medicines we have now"
Posted by: christine rees, wales, uk
"I am a biomedical researcher running a cancer research group and commend you on your efforts. I fully support your agenda."
Posted by: Iain Morgan, Glasgow
"It is great that the majority of people finally have a way to express their views against the minority who think they have the right to intimidate others who suppert testing on animals for medical research "
Posted by: Sophie Binks, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
"Not just about people ... ask anyone whose had their pet's life saved by a vet."
Posted by: Matt Day, London
"My wife is being treated for breast cancer, and without medical research she would not be with us now."
Posted by: Richard Barlow, Woking
"Very pleased to support this petition to support an activity which is sadly necessary but which has saved millions of lives and eased suffering throughout the world."
Posted by: B.Speight, Kent
"Both my children have Juvenile Batten disease. Regretably, it is unlikely that the cause of this evil disease will be found without the use of animal models. "
Posted by: Pauline Muncey, East sussex
"Its about time people stood up to the lunatic fringe of so-called animal rights protestors. Though, like most, I have a great affection for animals - humans must come first. Congratulations on giving ordinary people a voice!"
Posted by: Mark McBain, London
"I work in research, and am often frightened to tell people about my work for fear of the ALF or other extreme groups. The intimidation and lack of puplic understanding is a real problem, its a shame we feel like we cannot be publicly proud of our work."
Posted by: Maria Ledran, Gateshead
"I think animal testing is absolutely vital and I hope that the minority that are against it can be persuaded that they are in fact a minority. "
Posted by: Sam Bennett, Ipswich
"As a medical scientist, whose research into cardiovascular disease has avoided the use of living animals wherever possible, and as a father whose sons cancer was cured by medicines that were developed using animals, I fully support the petition. "
Posted by: Jeremy Pearson, London
"Thanks to our golden age of medicine I dont know anyone who has been crippled by polio, killed by smallpox, blinded my measles or put in a sanitorium to die from TB. Even those who werent vaccinated benefitted from the fact that most were."
Posted by: Neil Sheppard, Oxford
"I worked in animal sciences for 8 years. I am now a trainee nurse and I see the drugs I tested save lives.
People need to realise that animal testing in the UK is done to the highest standard, if it is stopped there the it WILL just go abroad."
Posted by: John Bayliss, Derby
"I hope that the silent majority will prevail here."
Posted by: Chris Kenyon, Oxford
"As someone living with Type 1 diabetes, I recognise the importance of continuing medical and scientific research on animals. Terrible diseases of the past, present and future have, and can be, conquered by the continued use of animal testing. "
Posted by: Dan Ferrett, Oxford
"I believe that animal testing is vital for medical research and for advancing new medicines to combat the major diseases."
Posted by: James Vallance, London
"A great idea to allow the majority of people who do appreciate the need for the use of animal testing for medical research to show support to all those affected by animal rights extremism."
Posted by: Caroline Flint MP, Doncaster
"For reasons of public safety and for the development of new medicines, animal testing is still required. No cellular or computer model can mimic the complexity of whole animal biochemistry and the dynamism of whole organ function or development."
Posted by: Dr. John G Connolly, Glasgow
"I am an insulin dependent diabetic - without animal testing I wouldnt be here."
Posted by: Lisa OToole, London
"Thank you for providing me a way to show my support of the work carried out for us."
Posted by: Deborah Waller, Cambridge
"People think that it is possible to test new medicines using only a test tube or computer simulations. This is completely wrong and we still need to test in animals to ensure that the drugs are both safe and efficacious before they get to man."
Posted by: Clare Murray, Nottingham
"I hope that truth + sense will prevail against lies and ignorance. It would be great if we did not have to test on animals, but the complexity of the diseases which inflict millions of people around the world means it is crucial. "
Posted by: James, Oxford
"Animal research is esential to future health needs for all people."
Posted by: Rosemary, Huntingdon
"Fantastic. About time there is a way I can voice my support for the great work our scientists and doctors are doing to develop medical treatments and knowledge."
Posted by: Rene Frank, Cambridge
"I agree with limited animal testing where it is strictly necessary."
Posted by: Andrew Ibberson, Northumberland
"Thank you for standing and being counted. On a purely subjective basis if it were not for animal testing one would not be here today. The problem is the anti testers highlight aspects of animal testing which will trigger emotional reactions."
Posted by: Jennifer Freeman, Leicester
"This petition is a great idea - finally an opportunity for the silent majority to register its views... I hope we can at last achieve some balance in this debate."
Posted by: Peter Durman, Bristol
"Thanks for your efforts on behalf of the civilised majority"
Posted by: Alex Parker, Johannesburg (UK citizen)
"It is fantastic that there is now somewhere where people like myself can activly voice their support for medical research using animals without fear of insult. I will be letting all my friends know of the site! :-)"
Posted by: Hannah, Sheffield
"I very much believe in the use of animals for testing if needed, and think the campaign of intimidation against HLS and GSK is inexcusable."
Posted by: James Martin Band, London
"At last a voice for the pro without fear of attack!"
Posted by: Ms R Cameron, Bournemouth, Dorset
"This is an excellent idea. We all benefit from this research, and as long as welfare standards are high I'm sure that the majority of the population is in favour of it continuing. Workers have the right to do their job without intimidation."
Posted by: Ellen Rea, Cheshire
"It's high time the majority who support good research spoke up!"
Posted by: Polly Toynbee, Lambeth, London
"I am grateful to the authors of this petition that there is now a forum where those, like me, who benefit every day from taking life-saving drugs tested on animals can make their voices heard, too. I wholeheartedly support this campaign."
Posted by: Elsabe van den Heever, Cambridge
"People who undertake these jobs are very brave and deserve to work in a nice environment where thay aren't being intimidated."
Posted by: Carys Herbert, Thame