Ban agreed on live exports

A Labour government should ban the export of all live animals for slaughter, conference agreed yesterday in a significant tightening up of its animal welfare policy.

The unanimous decision drew cheers, after Gavin Strang, agriculture spokesman, declared: "Animals for slaughter should be exported on the hook, not on the hoof. We will also end the export of our calves in veal crates." The policy would be "good for animals, good for rural jobs", Dr Strang said.

The motion said: "Slaughter of British animals should take place in British abattoirs as near as possible to the place of rearing." Last year, the conference only called for a ban on journeys to slaughter lasting longer than eight hours.