Euro-Round-up: Animals, Greens and Change

Photo: CC BY-SA

As much as I like Eurovision it's good to be back listening to rock music this morning with Machine Head from Deep Purple blaring over my headphones as I type and the missus watches whatever that is n the television. Now it's time to move forward after that brief distraction. A success despite the efforts of the comrades trolling on-line.

This week the Euro-elections are upon us as I was reminded yesterday afternoon whilst shopping in Kensington High Street and got handed a leaflet from the Animal Welfare Party. One group who hadn't delivered through the door. They are standing a full slate of candidates around a programme of policies designed to protect animals.

They are only standing in London as the £5,000 deposit prevents them from standing in other regions. There are however representatives of other Animal Welfare Parties in the European Parliament. You can read heir Manifesto: here

They won't win any seats and I'm not entirely sure why they are not with the Green Party (except the Greens are actually not a very pleasant organisation these days so maybe they are better off) but their Manifesto contains many policies with which I can agree and some which I cannot. A move to vegetarianism is not suitable for people like me who have to eat a low fibre diet for medical reasons. And there are a lot like me out there besides the fact I have no moral objection to eating animals for food.

Breeding them for fur is another thing. That goes for testing on Animals. Not necessary at all. The Body Shop doesn't do it and I was interested to hear that L'Oreal uses lab grown human skin for testing which is a relief as I use their range for men.

I was sad to read in The Metro that:

A new puppy farm has been given the go ahead in Britain, where puppies are specifically bred for animal testing. The facility will open in Grimston, near Hull, and will breed Beagles for vivisection and drug test experiments. 

It will be Britain’s second facility for breeding beagles to be cut open and experimented on while still alive. The other facility is in Harlan, Cambridgeshire, which breeds around 3,000 beagles for animal testing each year.

So unnecessary and cruel. 

Meanwhile as loyalties change even Lord Heseltine has switched to supporting the Liberal Democrats who are polling well in the run up to the vote on Thursday. However it is the populist Brexit Party that is the run away success in these elections.

There is still time for Change UK to establish itself on the political scene though it's obvious the impact of remainer voters turning to the Lib Dems will make a serious impact on the new party's performance. The organisation needs to get it's act together after the Euros as there remain thousands of disgruntled and politically homeless activists needing a new party before the next general election.

British politics is broken. Time for Change.