The UK still has 5 vegan MPs. This 23-year old activist is the newly elected MP for Nottingham East, and the UK’s first non-white vegan MP.… more
Update Feb 15: One of the new MPs, Nadia Whittome, is also vegan. Update Dec 14: The UK parliament is back down to four [known] vegan MPs – Chris Williamson was sacked by Labour, stood as an independent socialist, and lost his deposit. Two other animal advocate MPs were also lost.… more
This is a guide to the UK General election results of particular interest to vegans and animal advocates, conveniently in results order. [Updated with results June 9th]. The results are in italic – and as the title says, the UK now has at least 4 vegan MPs, which I suspect is a first for any legislature anywhere in the world.… more
As the British public make their biggest decision in a generation, Ian asks Kerry McCarthy MP about the potential impact of Brexit on animals. Vegan MP on EU Referendum In this special short extra edition of the Vegan Option, Ian catches up with longstanding vegan MP, and main official opposition spokeswoman on farming and the environment, Kerry McCarthy. How does she think animals would vote? (And, for that matter, how will Ian?) Play or download (17MB MP3) (via iTunes)… more
When the UK elected a new parliament last week, voters confounded all the pundits (including me) who had trusted the polls. Two of the three vegan MPs lost their seats. Three other other animal advocates lost seats in the collapse of the Liberal Democrats (the former minority government party). The new Conservative majority government is planning a vote to repeal the ban on foxhunting. Meanwhile, the tiny “Animal Welfare Party” expanded their profile and vote share.… more
The UK goes to the polls on May 7th to elect a new House of Commons, and staying up to watch the results come on on Friday morning is part of the fun. When do the important results for vegans arrive? Which incumbent is most at risk, and where are vegan challengers trying to steal marginal constituencies? more
This week, Resonance 104.4FM broadcast my interviews with the UK’s 3 vegan MPs. In the broadcast, I mentioned two vegan lawmakers who were missed out in the original internet radio shows: Marianne Thieme and Lee Rhiannon.… more
At the end of our last episode, Kerry McCarthy MP said she’d asked for a debate in Parliament to mark World Vegan Day.
She was successful, and at the end of business on November 1st the House of Commons debated veganism. I was watching from the gallery.
In this episode, concluding our series of three about veganism in politics, we give our account of the debate. We explain what’s going on, who everyone is, and tell you which of the MPs who spoke against is officially the least sexy Member of Parliament. more
The three vegan Members of the British Parliament (MPs) answer your questions. Are they afraid about how voters will react to their veganism? And what’s the food like at the House of Commons? more
You can watch the full 30 minute adjournment debate on World Vegan Day at BBC Democracy Live. Our next show will include our report on the debate, and answers from the vegan MPs to more of your questions.