Local MP named Animal Welfare MP of the Year
MP Alex Mayer whose campaigning helped persuade Ministers to scrap several outdated animal experiments has been named “MP of the Year” by leading international animal protection organisation Cruelty Free International.
Ms Mayer was praised by Cruelty Free International as “one of the most passionate voices for real, meaningful change” in supporting the Government’s commitment to phase out animal testing.
In May 2025, she helped launch Cruelty Free International's Replace Animal Tests campaign, which pressed Ministers to end animal experiments where proven non-animal alternatives already exist.
Following the campaign, the Government committed to scrapping five such tests by 2027 as part of its animal welfare strategy. These include Botox potency tests on mice and the so-called rabbit pyrogen test, which deliberately induces fever in animals.
Ms Mayer has also called on the House of Commons to go cruelty-free, by using only cleaning products that have never been tested on animals across the Parliamentary estate.
Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International, said: “We are delighted to recognise Alex’s contribution to the movement to end animal testing. She is a long-standing supporter of animal protection and the mission to end animal testing, in both the UK and Europe, and we thank her for her tireless work.
“In a year that has seen significant progress with the publication of the Government’s strategy to phase out animal testing, Alex’s voice has been among the most influential in advocating for real, meaningful change.
“She is also leading the call for the House of Commons to go cruelty-free by using only approved cruelty-free products. This practical approach to change is something we fully support.”
Accepting the award, Alex Mayer MP said: “How we treat animals is a measure of how civilised a society we are, so I am very pleased to receive this award. The UK is a nation of animal lovers and a global leader in science, and we should be leading the way in ending unnecessary animal suffering in laboratories.
“With more than two million tests carried out last year, the Government’s animal welfare strategy is an important step forward, but there is more to do. I will continue to make the case for Ministers to seize the opportunities offered by cutting-edge, human-relevant science that is better for both animals and people.”
She added: “People in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard and across our area care deeply about animal welfare, and they expect Parliament to reflect that compassion.”