Animal Loving Celebs Flock to Support Anti-Cage Campaign

Compassionate celebs including Chris Packham, Evanna Lynch and Heather Mills are among those who’ve written to their MP to demand a ban on caged egg production as part of Viva!’s Cracked campaign.

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol, UK

A flock of compassionate celebrities and influencers are publicly supporting a nationwide campaign calling on the Government to ban ‘enriched’ colony cages for egg-laying hens.

Launched by Viva!, the UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity, Cracked shines a light on the realities of Britain’s egg industry through investigation footage, public outreach events and calls to action designed to both raise awareness and hold ministers to account.

The Government’s recently published Animal Welfare Strategy for England includes a proposed ban on ‘enriched’ colony cages, but industry bodies – including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) – are resisting the plans. At the same time, cabinet unrest is sowing concern among animal advocates that promised welfare reforms may be quietly forgotten.

Campaigners also note that the 1 June deadline for a decision on cages has been and gone, with decision-makers now saying an update will follow in “the summer”.

Luckily, there are plenty of familiar faces with large, loyal followings of animal-loving fans keen to maintain pressure on politicians. From naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham, who’s always trying “to make the world a better place for animals”, to comedian Stevie Martin, who – with her trademark wit and dry humour – has called on the public to help our “beaky pals”, celebs have taken to social media with a simple message: that everyone appalled by the suffering of caged chickens should write to their MP and demand a ban on the practice.

Those supporting the campaign include:

• Chris Packham CBE – environmental campaigner, naturalist, TV presenter and author
• Evanna Lynch – actor and star of the Harry Potter franchise
• Heather Mills – businesswoman and animal rights activist
• Wendy Turner Webster – TV personality, producer, author and animal activist
• Mathew Pritchard – former Dirty Sanchez frontman turned endurance athlete and author
• Stevie Martin – vegan comedian and TV personality
• Victoria Featherstone Pearce – former model, founder of K9 Angels charity and animal activist
• Chrissie Hynde – former The Pretenders frontwoman
• Sasha Jolliffe Yasawi – activist and political candidate
• Peter Egan – actor and animal activist
• Jasmine Harman – TV presenter and writer
• Dr Marc Abraham OBE – vet, broadcaster, author and animal welfare campaigner
• Professor Andrew Knight – internationally accredited veterinary specialist in animal welfare
• Adrian Ramsay MP – Green Party MP for Waveney Valley
• Nicole Whittle (@veganbeautygirl) – popular vegan beauty influencer and animal advocate

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 egg-laying 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’s! latest survey, meanwhile, has revealed that three in four consumers are unaware that ‘enriched’ colony cages are still used in the UK. 

Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva!, says: “The reaction to our Cracked social media poster campaign has been phenomenal. From some of the UK’s most beloved defenders of nature and the environment to experts in animal health and welfare, plus a raft of actors, authors and activists, our famous supporters have been invaluable in galvanising action from the public. We know that numerous members of the public have already written to their MPs, many because they’ve seen their heroes lead by example. With a response to the cage ban consultation supposedly coming soon, we’re hoping this sustained pressure delivers what 94 per cent of people want – a ban on cage cruelty and a better life for millions of hens. We’re so grateful for the support of these compassionate celebs.”

Official quotes

“When an opportunity presents itself to make the world a better place for animals, I’m always keen to grab it – and we currently have one. For the whole of those battered hens living in squalid, tight, small, dark cages, producing eggs as cheaply as possible, this is a real opportunity to make a difference.” – Chris Packham

“No animal should spend her life trapped in a cage for the sake of cheap eggs. It’s time for the UK Government to listen to the public, keep its promise, and ban cages once and for all.” – Evanna Lynch

“Imprisoning hens in commercial cages is like locking people into a London underground train carriage – for life. Except that the hens have less space and less environmental enrichment. These cages are clearly cruel and should be banned.” – Professor Andrew Knight

“People should be horrified to see how millions of laying hens in the UK still live. We can end this cruelty. The Government has opened the door to banning cages for laying hens, but it is not law yet and the egg industry is lobbying hard to keep these systems in place behind closed doors. That’s why public pressure matters right now more than ever. If enough people speak up, millions of birds could be spared a lifetime of confinement.” – Heather Mills

“Yes, there’s a LOT to be horrified about at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we should treat our egg-laying beaky pals like this. They’re alive, they feel things, there’s no need to cage them.” – Stevie Martin

“Hens in cages? On what planet can this possibly be acceptable?! They are seen as only good for one thing – PROFIT – and the people who farm them will never see them as sentient beings who feel pain and suffering. That’s where WE come in… let’s join Viva! and help them bring an end to this disgraceful practice. If you’re as upset about this as I am, please take action now!” – Wendy Turner Webster

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