Irene Campbell, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, joined more than 35 MPs, scientists and policymakers at a PETA reception at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, November 11. The event marked one year to the day since the government published its Replacing Animals in Science Strategy, following decades of campaigning by PETA and its supporters.
Call for measurable phase-out plans
Attendees reviewed progress as PETA urged MPs to encourage every UK university, company and laboratory that uses, houses or breeds animals for experiments to set a clear, measurable plan for phasing out cruel and unreliable experiments. The reception was sponsored by Ruth Jones MP and attended by Bob Blackman CBE MP, Adrian Ramsay MP and Sir Roger Gale MP, along with actor and animal advocate Amanda Abbington.
Abbington, who appears in a new PETA video with Kate Lawler, Gail Porter and other celebrities reacting to footage of animals suffering in laboratory experiments, spoke to attendees about ending inhumane animal experimentation and transitioning to animal-free research methods. She encouraged support for PETA's campaign to end all experiments on animals.
MPs and PETA urge action
"Millions of animals are still suffering in laboratories every year," said Irene Campbell MP. "Universities, companies and research institutions must develop their own plans to accelerate the shift to animal-free research."
"Millions of animals are subjected to painful and frightening experiments, and a year after the government published its strategy, ambition must now become action to end their suffering," said PETA Head of Science Policy, Dr Julia Baines. "PETA is calling for decisive steps to end all experiments on animals and accelerate the shift to state-of-the-art, human-relevant science."
According to PETA, rats are empathetic, family-oriented individuals who will put themselves in harm's way to save someone else, male mice woo their mates with high-pitched love songs, and baby rats giggle when they're tickled. Yet experimenters subject animals to painful and frightening procedures, including injecting mice with bacteria in an attempt to induce sepsis.
Research Modernisation Deal framework
PETA says its Research Modernisation Deal provides a 'comprehensive framework' for ending experiments on animals and can 'complement' policymakers' work to implement the UK strategy. PETA, whose motto reads in part that "animals are not ours to experiment on," points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger and fear, 'a mouse is a dog is a boy.'
