As reported last week in The Ferret, campaigners and politicians are calling on Conservative MP David Mundell to hand back a £9,995 donation from Glenrath Farms, an egg producer currently under investigation for animal cruelty.
Animal Justice Project (AJP) released footage earlier this year exposing horrific treatment of egg-laying hens on supposedly “high-welfare” farms.
One of these, Glenrath Farms in Peeblesshire, Scotland, made a sizeable donation to Mundell in 2020. Glenrath’s founder John Campbell was knighted in 2017.
AJP’s undercover filming revealed that even the most basic animal welfare requirements are not being met at this free-range farm.
Immense suffering at RSPCA Assured farm
Glenrath Farms, like all the farms in AJP’s investigation, is certified by “free-range” labels and sold as a higher welfare product.
RSPCA accreditation allows Glenrath to charge more for its eggs and gives consumers the impression that the hens are well cared for.
Yet, the footage exposed clear breaches of egg market regulations. For example, the RSPCA stipulates that free-range hens must have continuous outdoor daytime access; AJP’s investigation found hens at Glenrath not being let outside on four separate days.
From densely packed hens in immense pain and distress to injured birds left to suffer, the footage reveals that there is nothing ethical about free-range eggs.
Nation of animal lovers
A politician taking donations from an unethical company is a depressingly commonplace event just as murky marketing is a tried and tested method for animal abuse industries.
But for a politician standing for election in a “nation of animal lovers”, aligning yourself with blatant animal cruelty could well backfire.
Mundell won election in 2019 with a majority of fewer than 4,000 votes. Now, the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat that he is hoping to hold is predicted to swing to Labour. ★
Feature image credit: Animal Justice Project
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