Animal Free Research UK at the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservative Party Conferences

It has been quite a month for our Public Affairs team! After attending the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, the team are taking stock of what has been a brilliant conference season for the charity. A new parliamentary cohort due to the election presented many opportunities to build on our network of supportive policymakers there, while also re-connecting with long-term allies, and spreading our message of hope to conference delegates. And the results are in: it was a great success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Labour and Conservative conferences, you really couldn’t miss us. Our striking – and very large – image of Herbie set a captivating backdrop to our stands,

drawing MPs, Peers, Councillors, and party members over to chat with us. (Whilst we did not have a stand at this year’s Liberal Democrats conference, our Public Affairs Director Isobel did a stellar job at meeting parliamentarians around the conference site). Once at our stands, our team – who adopted the name ‘Herbie’s Angels’ during the conference season – let people know about our campaign for Herbie’s Law. We brought the brilliant Dr Gemma Davies (Science Communications Officer) along with us to explain the exciting, innovative science behind human-specific technologies, and our Public Affairs team (Isobel, Darcie and Aaron), let MPs and Peers know how they can support our campaign in Parliament. Many MPs also took part in our timed Herbie-themed puzzle competition. The fastest MPs at both conferences – Emma Foody MP at Labour and Rt Hon Edward Argar MP at Conservatives – won a Mini-Herbie teddy, and the well-deserved right to call themselves undisputed puzzle champions.

 

 

Crucially, we got our message across to a huge group of policymakers: that replacing the use of animals in medical research with new methodologies is possible, and that Herbie’s Law is the much-needed legislation that would support the process. We have so many connections – old and new – to follow up with now we are back at our desks. Increasing our parliamentary support is integral to making progress for animals, and we have come away from the conferences safe in the knowledge that this mission was accomplished.

A lot of MPs told us that their constituents had emailed them asking them to visit our stand at the Labour or Conservative conferences, and for that we cannot thank you enough. It is so important that parliamentarians understand the public’s strength of feeling on this matter, and you all do an amazing job at keeping it high on their agenda.

Away from the stands, we attended fringe events including from Labour Animal Welfare Society, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, and the Animals Matter coalition.

It was energising to hear from other groups about their campaigns, and to hear so much support for ours. We feel truly proud to be fighting for what we – and so many others – believe in.

Isobel also met with Baroness Sue Hayman (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister with responsibility for animal welfare) to discuss how we can work together on the phase-out of animal testing in medical research. Baroness Hayman confirmed that she is going to be working closely with Ministers at the Home Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to make progress in this area.

For now, ‘Herbie’s Angels’ are happy  to have had a few days of resting their legs at their desks, whilst following up with all the opportunities produced by their attendance at the conferences this year, before heading back to Westminster this week for some vital meetings (more on that in future blogs!). Every day, we are grateful to be able to speak up for animals in laboratories to those who can make change happen. And we are so thankful for all your support, whether through contacting your MPs, donating, raising awareness with your friends and families, or online, and all of the other wonderful ways you show solidarity: thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being on this journey with us.

Together, we will create a world where animals and humans lead healthy, happy lives, free from suffering.