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Published 12/04/2010
With the UK General Election campaign now underway, Compassion supporters can raise the profile of our key farm animal welfare issues with their local Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs).
We know that the election won't be decided on our issues, but there is more than one good reason to speak out: whoever is elected to represent you in your constituency is a potential voice for farm animal welfare in Parliament. Some of our best "animal welfare friends" within Westminster are standing down at this election and we need new welfare champions to take their place. We need MPs who will table Early Day Motions or Private Members' Bills to further our cause and who will be active members of the All Party Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), which meets regularly to see how MPs can take action within the political system to advance key animal welfare issues.
Vote Cruelty Free
We have teamed up with other leading welfare groups in the Vote Cruelty Free Coalition and many PPCs have signed up to the Coalition's agenda. Each coalition group has chosen their key issues, which they ask PPCs to endorse.
The issues that Compassion is focusing on in the Vote Cruelty Free campaign are:
- Export of animals for slaughter or fattening should be brought to an end
- 'Enriched' cages for egg laying hens should be prohibited
- Government must enforce the EU legislation requiring pigs to be provided with enrichment materials and prohibiting routine tail docking
- Animal welfare should be seen as one of the core objectives of Government food policy.
Take Action
Between now and the election on Thursday 06 May 2010, please promote farm animal welfare in the UK by taking the following actions, which are highlighted on Compassion Chief Executive Philip Lymbery's blog:
- Contact your local candidates and take every opportunity possible, from your front door to local public meetings, to ask for their opinion on the above four demands.
- Write letters to your local newspaper and call in to your local radio station to let other people know you will vote for the candidate who speaks out the most for farmed animals. Remember you don't have to tell anyone who that will be!
- Use social networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, You Tube) to promote Compassion and reach even more people with our four demands.
- Speak personally with family, friends and colleagues to let them know that farm animal welfare matters to you and will determine who you will vote for.
Let us know what happens by contacting our supporter services team.
