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Labour MP Sarah Champion urged supporters “don’t let Labour off the hook” with calls for the end of animal testing in the UK, as we co-hosted a hugely successful Christmas Reception with her at the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Attended by over 25 MPs, and the Parliamentary Assistants of several others, as well as senior staff from over 10 Leaping Bunny-approved brands, the MP for Rotherham reiterated her wish for a ‘cruelty-free Christmas’ and said:
“I want you to be ambitious in what you’re asking for. I am a Labour MP – don’t let Labour off the hook. The government needs to present to us an ambitious timetable for phasing this out for good, and also to help the UK to keep pace with what is going on around the world. Whilst it’s more my responsibility to make that happen, it’s up to all of us to lobby and encourage MPs to do the same. Let us demand that it happens right now. Change is literally within reach, but we have to keep the pressure on, and we have to keep working together.”
On her dreams for a cruelty-free Christmas, she continued: “It’s a season that seemingly prioritises consumption. It’s the same time, though, that we talk about hope and joy, and we need to ensure that the British public are aware of the things that they do can do to combine both – making sure that they are actually buying things that do not have cruelty in, and showing others how they can do the same. So I urge all of you to intentionally shop for Leaping Bunny products, and encourage others to do so.”
Our CEO, Michelle Thew, echoed Champion by saying: “2024 has been a momentous year for lots of reasons – politically, obviously – and we have a real opportunity now to see change happen. We’ve had a really positive year. We’ve set out our cruelty-free manifesto, we had tens of thousands of supporters contacting their MPs, and hundreds and hundreds of pledges from election candidates – and now we have a government committed to that change. We stand ready to deliver that commitment.
“We are standing on the shoulders of our founders, from 1898, but this is our moment now to write our own chapter in history. It’s a moment that we can see together, if we are bold and ambitious. We are seeing, with this new Parliament, a high volume of interest from MPs who are committed to this issue – that see animals at the centre of social justice and want to see that change that the Labour government has promised. We need to bring that energy to turn those words into action, and that’s what we pledge to do as an organisation.
“We know a new vision is possible, and the moment is now for the government to deliver on that manifesto pledge.”
Michelle explained how, to buy cruelty-free products over 20 years ago, consumers had to visit the small health stores in larger towns – but now Leaping Bunny-approved brands are on every High Street and in every shopping centre in the UK. As Jenna Whittingham-Ward of Boots highlighted, 85% of UK citizens live within ten minutes of a Boots store, whose own-brand range of cosmetics, personal care and household products are Leaping Bunny approved.
The reception was also a celebration of our achievements throughout the year, and Champion recognised the importance of continued collaboration in 2025, saying:
“We are here to celebrate the successes of 2024 – successes that have only been possible thanks to the collective efforts of everybody in this room. From campaigners to corporate leaders, scientists to policy makers, it is genuinely your passion and commitment and determination that continues to drive progress towards a cruelty-free future – and thanks to all of you. 2024 has shown us what’s possible when we work together.”
You can support a cruelty-free UK by making a donation today.