Animal Lovers Rally Outside Parliament to Demand End to Caged Eggs

Viva! brings its Cracked campaign to Westminster as campaigners, volunteers and members of the public unite to urge MPs to ban cages for egg-laying hens.

Bristol, UK – Friday 15 May 2026

Campaigners, volunteers and animal-loving members of the public turned out in force outside the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 12 May in a powerful show of public support for a permanent ban on caged egg-laying hens. The event, organised by the UK’s largest vegan campaigning charity, Viva!, formed part of the charity’s nationwide Cracked campaign.

Viva!’s campaigns manager, Katie Robinson, said: “What an incredible day to be in London! The sun came out to join us, along with loads of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers and supporters. Even members of the public who wandered over to see what was going on were so motivated by the demonstration that they picked up a placard and lent their voices to our call for a ban on cages. We’re so incredibly grateful for all the support and newly inspired to keep campaigning until a legally binding ban is passed through Parliament.”

The rally drew a passionate crowd united by a common cause: urging the Government to follow through on its pledge to ban so-called ‘enriched’ colony cages, despite intense opposition lobbying from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC).

Between rousing chants and inspirational speeches, members of the public were invited to learn more about Viva! Campaigns’ undercover investigations at UK egg farms – including a caged facility and two ‘free range’ operations – while friendly campaigners and volunteers answered questions, discussed the animal welfare issues inherent in the egg industry and shared practical advice on simple plant-based food swaps.

A letter template enabling members of the public to contact their local MP with just a few clicks was also made available on the day.

And at 1pm, Viva!’s founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, delivered a passionate speech drawing on her decades of experience exposing caged facilities and advocating for the humane treatment of animals.

“After so many decades shining a light on the horrendous suffering caused by cages, it feels like we’re finally within reach of a ban – but the fight isn’t over yet,” says Gellatley. “Viva!’s rally, while an inspirational and significant display of public anti-cage sentiment, was just a small part of our Cracked campaign. Until the Government does the right thing – the humane thing – and bans ‘enriched’ colony cages, Viva! will keep up the pressure as we continue to campaign for these intelligent, sensitive and inquisitive animals.”

About the Cracked Campaign

Launched to coincide with a critical window in UK farming policy, Cracked shines a light on the realities of Britain’s egg industry through undercover investigation footage, public outreach events and a direct challenge to government ministers to deliver on animal welfare commitments.

The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England includes a proposed ban on ‘enriched’ colony cages, yet the NFU and BEIC have each moved to resist these proposals, including efforts to block technology that would end the mass culling of male chicks.

Polling consistently shows that the British public is deeply uncomfortable with current egg industry practices: 94 per cent of consumers are against keeping hens in cages and 85 per cent are against chick culling – yet approximately 7.3 million hens are currently kept in cages on British factory farms, while 40 to 45 million male chicks are gassed each year within just 36 hours of hatching.

Viva! Campaigns’ investigations – conducted at one enriched colony cage facility (Heal Farms) and two free range facilities (Kilforge Farm and Lower Bellamore Farm, both of which supply The Happy Egg Co.) – found overcrowding, stress and unnatural conditions to be common across all production methods, regardless of the label on the box. The charity advocates for compassionate vegan lifestyles and provides a raft of supporting information on its website focused on the environmental, health and animal welfare benefits of balanced plant-based diets.

Further volunteer-run Cracked events are planned across the country throughout the remainder of 2026.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

• Viva! is a registered charity (no. 1037486) and the UK’s leading vegan campaigning organisation
• For press enquiries and additional assets, please contact Rachael Simpson-Jones, PR manager at Viva! – rachael@viva.org.uk
• More information on Cracked can be found here – viva.org.uk/cracked