Joanna Lumley says ‘abhorrent’ animal exports should stop

ACTRESS Joanna Lumley has renewed her call for an end to “abhorrent” live animal exports amid concerns from campaigners about a resurgence in the number of animals being transported live from the UK.

The star said the Government and its EU partners must join forces to stop animals – including calves – enduring “exhausting and stressful” journeys to the Continent.

Protests have been held at the port of Ramsgate in Kent in recent months, reviving memories of clashes witnessed in the 1990s when the UK was one of Europe’s biggest live exporters.

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According to Compassion in World Farming, more than 80,000 animals last year went through Ramsgate, the only UK port being used for live exports to the Continent.

Ms Lumley, a patron of the charity, said: “It’s unbelievable that we are still sending young and vulnerable calves on exhausting and stressful journeys to destinations as far away as Spain.

“How can we possibly call ourselves a compassionate society when we allow this abhorrent trade to continue? Our Government and EU partners must take urgent action to end this scandalous trade.”

Ms Lumley spoke out a year after live animal exports started at Ramsgate.

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Compassion in World Farming said an eight-hour limit to all transport for fattening and slaughter would effectively end live exports from the UK.

Some animals face “unacceptably long journeys”, with evidence of one recent consignment of calves being taken from Devon to Spain, it added.