Baker: Animal support

The Liberal Democrats have called for the compulsory microchipping of dogs and a ban on the sale of animals to under-16s.

In a wide-ranging debate at the party's Brighton conference, rank-and-file member Stephen Lloyd said the issues should be guided by members' core values.

"The mark of a civil society is how we treat those who are unable to defend themselves," he said.

Guildford MP Sue Doughty said any animal welfare policies would have to be pursued at EU level in order to prevent UK farmers and abattoirs being undercut by foreign competition.

"Our farmers have to compete in the international market," she warned.

"We have to give that industry support and we have to do what we can to ensure they are not priced out of the market."

Activist Jemma Charlton called for a ban on the use of animals by circuses - a move that was later rejected by the party leadership.

"To use dogs and horses in circuses is cruel and evil. Horses are beaten and treated like the scum of the earth," she said.

But farmer and councillor Terry Jones called on the party to come up with sensible proposals.

"I care passionately about the welfare of animals in the countryside," he told delegates.

"There are a great deal of platitudinous clichés in the policy document, much of it contradictory.

"It is a great shame that we've missed an opportunity to make some radical proposals."

A policy adviser for the Lib Dems told ePolitix.com that the divisions are exactly the same as those facing both Labour and the Conservatives.

"This is a difficult issue for all the political parties as the two sides in the debate are in no mood to compromise," he said.

Environment spokesman Norman Baker told the conference that the party would back compulsory microchipping of dogs - currently a voluntary scheme - and that it would support more local abattoirs.

"There is nothing liberal in allowing humans to inflict suffering on animals," he said.

"It's right that we update our policy on animals. The paper shows the Liberal Democrats have, as a party, taken animal welfare seriously."