Mike Hancock, Mp, Wins PETA Europe’S Vote

For Immediate Release:
20 July 2007

Contact:
Alistair Currie 020 7357 9229, ext 245
Karen Chisholm 020 7357 9229, ext 229

Progressive Politician Wins Award for Compassionate Steps for Animals

Portsmouth – In recognition of his unwavering commitment to raising issues regarding animal welfare in Parliament, Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock has been named the Most Progressive Politician in PETA Europe’s second annual Proggy Awards. Hancock will receive a framed award and will be featured on PETA.org.uk. “Proggy” stands for “progress”, and the Proggy Awards recognise animal-friendly achievements in commerce and culture.

A Liberal Democrat, Hancock raises animal welfare issues in government every chance he gets. Not only has he tabled questions in Parliament that address the use of countless defenceless animals in military experiments, he also wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ask that British citizens in Lebanon be allowed to evacuate with their companion animals instead of forced to abandon animals in the streets, as they were instructed to do when the war began. He also wrote to all the Liberal Democrats in Parliament and urged them to sign on to an Early Day Motion to replace The Queen’s Guards’ traditional bearskin caps with caps made from a modern synthetic material. Hancock and other MPs donned fake bearskin caps and posed for a photo – taken by PETA Europe – calling on the Ministry of Defence to “Go Fake, for the Bears’ Sake”. Hancock has tabled questions in Parliament regarding this issue.

“Hancock’s dedication to providing animals with a voice in politics makes him our number one choice for this progressive award”, says PETA Europe’s Sarah Dickinson. “This is our way of expressing our thanks.”

More than 25 Proggy Awards have been given out this year, and the winners include a tour operator, a city council, and independent producers and marketers of vegan foods and cruelty-free personal care products.

For more information and to see the entire list of Proggy Award winners, please visit PETA.org.uk.