Home What's New Speeches & Articles Newsletter - Jul 2008 Biography Diary Contact Information Photo Album Parliamentary Highlights Publications Links MEPs' Transparency   Conservative Party Latest News from Conservatives.com Conservative Party Website
		MEP supports Transportation Awareness Ride Wednesday, 22 August 2002 East Midlands Conservative MEP, Roger Helmer, has given his full support to the Transportation Awareness Ride, organised by the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). Roger Helmer MEP joined the Transportation Awareness Ride on Sunday (18 August) as it passed through the East Midlands. The ILPH, a leading equine welfare charity, organised the event to raise awareness of their ongoing campaign against the live transport of horses and other animals for slaughter in Europe. This year is particularly important for the campaign with the European Commission currently drafting proposals for an updated Transportation Directive. The export of live horses has been stopped in the UK but local Euro-MP Roger Helmer is concerned about the situation in Western Europe and countries such as Italy where the demand for fresh horse-meat is high. Mr Helmer has worked closely with the ILPH and supported their work for many years. He is himself the owner of a horse and a keen rider. Speaking after the event Roger Helmer MEP said: "It is important that people in the East Midlands is aware of the terrible conditions that many horses and other animals are forced to endure when being exported live for slaughter in Europe. "These horses are being transported for thousands of miles, often jammed into over crowded lorries for several days without food or water, and in extreme weather conditions.