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Animal Welfare Party gains first UK representative
AWP leader Venessa Hudson said the UK has a proud history of thought leadership in animal welfare.

Move an important milestone in the party’s history 

Green Party member Jane Smith has switched political parties to become the first UK representative of the Animal Welfare Party (AWP).

Announcing her decision on Monday (4 September) Smith, a serving councillor on Alsager Town Council, said that she made the decision because she believes it is important ‘that we begin to acknowledge and address the inherent unfairness of our human-centric decision making bodies.’

“Although the step I take today may appear small, I believe it is of huge symbolic significance,” she said. “We share our world and our natural resources with so many other species and it is only right and fair that those other animals and their habitats are properly represented and considered in our decision making.”

Established 10 years ago, the AWP is based on the highly successful Dutch ‘Party for Animals’, which holds five seats in the Dutch House of Representatives.

In May 2016, AWP contested the Northern Ireland and Scottish Parliament elections for the first time, in addition to contesting the London Assembly Elections in which the party won 25,810 votes (1%).

In this years’ General Election, AWP contested three London constituencies, while veterinary surgeon and professor of animal welfare Andrew Knight stood for AWP in Maidenhead.

Responding to Smith’s move to AWP, party leader Vanessa Hudson said: “The UK has a proud history of thought leadership in animal welfare and it’s high time animals had dedicated representatives in our decision making bodies. Only that way can their needs and interests begin to be properly protected. With today’s news, AWP takes its first steps to joining our sister parties in the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Australia who have already achieved that for animals.”

“We are delighted that Jane has joined us enabling the UK to take this important step.’ Hudson continued, “We welcome her into our party and look forward to supporting her continued good work for people, animals and the environment in Alsager and beyond.”

Image (C) Reetsyn8/Wikimedia

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue low vector period ends

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With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.