Manchester MP John Leech is urging people to sign a petition to make CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses, as signatures approach the 100,000 mark.
The petition, started by Animal Aid’s, Kate Fowler, was created after the group obtained footage of abattoir workers punching and kicking animals, scaring them with knives, jumping on them and throwing them into solid metal surfaces.
The issue will be discussed in Parliament if 100,000 signatues are obtained and Withington Lib Dem MP Leech – who has supported the campaign from the offset – expects the figure to be reached by the weekend.
“Please sign if you haven’t already – the current petition on the Government website stands at around 99,000, and hopefully it will get over the 100,000 mark this weekend,” he said.
“I support Animal Aid’s campaign for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses – big supermarkets insist on it, the Food Standards Agency supports it and it is absolutely necessary to ensure the highest standard of animal welfare and protection.
“I hope that once we reach our goal, we can debate it in parliament and get CCTV into all slaughterhouses as soon as possible.”
As well as speaking out for the campaign, MP Leech also tweeted a plea to rally over 100,000 petitioners.
98000 have signed @AnimalAid petition for CCTV in #slaughterhouses. Please sign. http://t.co/SlfRisD8Kt pic.twitter.com/31Xur70n1W
— John Leech (@johnleechmcr) February 6, 2015
Kate Fowler, who is behind the petition, spoke to MM about the reception it has had.
“Since we released details of a highly distressing, investigation at a Yorkshire slaughterhouse – the petition for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses has really taken off,” she said.
“Thankfully, there are many compassionate people out there who have told us that they have signed this petition, and many have said they will never eat meat again.
“It’s clear we need thorough, independent monitoring inside slaughterhouses instead of the current shambolic system.
“John Leech MP has been particularly supportive, from allowing us to photograph him with our campaign banner, to tweeting the petition. We extend our deepest thanks to him.”
You can sign the petition by clicking here.
There is also another government petition, campaigning to end non-stun slaughterhouses, which has received over 110,000 signatures. You can access that petition by clicking here.
Image courtesy of Sky News via YouTube, with thanks.
