London, 5th October 2022
Yesterday (Tuesday 4th October) the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) held its annual World Animal Day reception at Conservative Party Conference in tribute to Sir David Amess MP, CAWF’s close friend and Patron who sadly passed away last year.
The reception was hosted by Jane Stevenson MP who this year secured the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 which bans the use of cruel glue traps. In her opening speech, Jane paid tribute to Sir David Amess and highlighted one of the Bills he supported in the months before his death: CAWF Patron Henry Smith MP’s Private Members Bill, ‘Beatrice’s Bill’, which would end cages for laying hens.
CAWF Co-Founder Lorraine Platt spoke next in memory of Sir David; remembering the key animal welfare campaigns he championed and paying tribute to his warm, kind character. She also announced the upcoming launch of a new campaign led by the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, ‘The Crate Escape’, which will continue the important work Sir David began through his Private Members Bill last year on ending pig farrowing crates.
Above left: CAWF Co-Founders Lorraine and Chris Platt pictured with host Jane Stevenson MP. Above right: Jane Stevenson MP addresses guests
Mark Francois MP spoke next, paying a beautiful tribute to Sir David Amess and his brilliant sense of humour in a speech filled with fond memories. He recalled that Sir David was “passionately committed to the cause of animal welfare”. Mark told guests, “we have lost a champion, but we have not lost a legacy”.
Anna Firth MP who now represents Southend West constituency following Sir David’s passing also delivered a speech where she remembered two of his most important campaigns. These were the campaigns to end pig farrowing crates and ban live animal exports for fattening and slaughter – “a barbaric practice Sir David stood up against for many years”.
Above left: Mark Francois MP addresses guests. Above right: Anna Firth MP supports the campaign to end pig farrowing crates.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, world renowned British explorer, spoke next on a subject close to Sir David’s heart: the need to end hunting trophy imports. He stressed that future generations will look back in horror at trophy hunting, and urged the Government to ensure Manifesto commitments are honoured and a ban is enacted.
Above left: Sir Ranulph Fiennes calls for an end to hunting trophy imports. Above right: CAWF Co-Founders Lorraine and Chris Platt join Sir Ranulph calling for a ban on trophy hunting imports.
CAWF Patron and former Secretary of State for Theresa Villiers MP delivered a speech praising Sir David’s campaigns to end cages for laying hens, and also live exports. She paid tribute to his tireless work on animal welfare, and urged the audience to “look after vulnerable, sentient beings that cannot look after themselves”. She pledged to continue the fight for the measures included in the Conservatives’ 2019 Manifesto.
Finally, we heard from Andrea Jenkyns MP, Education Minister, who echoed the sentiments of previous guests in their warm words about Sir David. Andrea spoke powerfully on Sir David’s strength of character and how missed he is by his constituents, colleagues, and friends.
Above left: CAWF Patron Theresa Villiers MP addresses the audience. Above right: Andrea Jenkyns MP pays tribute to Sir David Amess.
Above: CAWF Co-Founders Lorraine and Chris Platt, Andrea Jenkyns MP, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Anna Firth MP, Jane Stevenson MP, Mark Francois MP
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “It was a privilege to hold our annual World Animal Day reception in memory of our dear friend and late Patron Sir David Amess yesterday. We were touched by each of our speakers’ powerful tributes, and their recollections of the animal welfare campaigns that he championed over decades. In particular, we were pleased to hear commitments from MP speakers to continue the fight to end pig farrowing crates and live animal exports for fattening and slaughter, alongside other key measures included in the 2019 Conservative Party Manifesto.
“We would like to express our thanks to Jane Stevenson MP for hosting this important reception, and all of our other MP speakers including our Patron Theresa Villiers, Education Minister Andrea Jenkyns, Anna Firth, and Mark Francois. We were also honoured to hear from world renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes who spoke on ending hunting trophy imports, a campaign close to Sir David’s heart.”
About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and people’s health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
Media contact: Sophia Stileman (sophia.stileman@conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org)
