Tony Blair has announced plans to consult on exempting some firms from providing full public details of shareholders in future.

It follows threats to shareholders in the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

They were sent letters warning them to sell their stakes within 14 days or risk having their personal details published on a website.

In a break with tradition, the prime minister revealed he has signed a public petition in support of animal testing — saying he wants to add his voice to the “silent majority” of people who back such research when there is no alternative.

He claimed the latest campaign by extremists highlighted the importance of supporting those involved in life-saving medical research and vowed to do more to protect them.

In an article for The Sunday Telegraph, he said: “We all hope that the time will come when no animal testing is needed at all. But that’s not the case at the moment. There is no alternative for the foreseeable future to using animals if we are to see the full benefits of scientific advances.”

He claimed tough penalties handed down by courts to extremists showed how seriously the issue was taken by the government.

But he added: “More needs to be done. We will consult further on exempting companies from providing full public details of shareholders in future. If more measures are needed to protect individuals, universities and firms or to root out the criminal extremist fringe, we will provide them.”

Blair condemned the extremist fringe as “out of touch with public opinion” and called on more people to express their support for animal testing for vital medical research.

He stressed that controls on the use of animals in laboratories in Britain were among the strictest in the world.

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