This week Dame Nia Griffith MP for Llanelli attended a reception in Westminster, hosted by Irene Campbell MP and organised Compassion in World Farming that brought together MPs from across the political spectrum, with representatives from food companies and animal welfare organisations, to discuss the urgent need to End the Cage Age for egg laying hens in the UK.
75% of the British public think cages are cruel, yet they are still legal in the UK. Approximately 7 million laying hens endure most of their lives in so-called ‘enriched’ cages. Confined, they can’t adequately forage, dustbathe, see the light of day, or even fully stretch their wings.
At the event artwork of hens created by well-known public figures – including actress Dame Joanna Lumley, TV Dragon Deborah Meaden and actor Peter Egan – were on display. Each was drawn on an A4 sheet of paper to indicate the approximate amount of space that an egg laying hen has in a cage. Members of the public have also been submitting hen drawings to Compassion, in preparation for a large-scale art instillation next spring.
After attending the event, Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said:
“We pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers, yet millions of hens remain trapped in cages, denied even the most basic freedoms. The public has repeatedly spoken and it’s time for action. I fully support calls to End the Cage Age for egg laying hens.”
James West, Chief Public Affairs Manager at Compassion in World Farming, added:
“It’s encouraging to see policymakers engaging with this issue. There is clear, overwhelming support from MPs, celebrities, and the British public to End the Cage Age for egg laying hens – now it’s time for the Government to act and end this cruelty once and for all.”
Dr Amir Khan, who supported the event, said:
“I am proud to be part of the 75% of the British public that think cages are cruel. As an NHS doctor, I believe in prevention over treatment. Getting hens out of cages would prevent unimaginable suffering for millions of hens in the UK every year. This move could even help to improve public health, with intensive factory farming practices often linked to higher rates of diseases, antibiotic resistance, and environmental damage. When we improve the lives of animals, we can improve our own lives too.”
Photo Credit: ©Nacho Rivera