What the 2015 UK Election means for Animals

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.

A UK Election Night Guide for Vegans

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.

Veganism in Politics: Netherlands and Australia

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.

Veganism in Politics: The British Parliament Debates World Vegan Day

(20 min) Play or download (18MB MP3) (other formats) (via iTunes)

Veganism in Politics 3: The Debate

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.

Veganism in Politics: Chris Williamson MP, Cathy Jamieson MP and Kerry McCarthy MP answer your questions

(14 min) Play or download (15MB MP3) (other formats) (via iTunes)

Veganism in Politics 2: Q & A

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?

Parliament debates veganism

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.

Veganism in Politics: Chris Williamson MP, Cathy Jamieson MP and Kerry McCarthy MP with questions from Dennis Kucinich and Maneka Gandhi

(40 min) Play or download (20MB MP3) (other formats) (via iTunes)

Veganism in Politics 1: Worldwide

We profile the handful of people who combine veganism with politics at their country’s national level. I went to the UK Parliament to meet Britain’s three vegan MPs. What was their path to politics? And I took with me questions from their counterparts in the rest of the world.

What should I ask the vegan MPs?

On Monday I head over to Westminster to meet the three vegan Members of the British Parliament.  What do you think I should ask them?

Say in replies to this post, or with the hashtag #VeganMPs on Twitter.