Urgent Action Needed! Tell the House of Lords to Reject the Ban on Animal Testing Protests

On Wednesday, 14 January, MPs voted in favour of banning protests at sites that experiment on animals. This is a major attack on our fundamental right to free speech – but we have a chance to stop the ban.

Email peers at the House of Lords today to urge them to oppose the plans.

They are debating the ban on 21 January – so please act today!

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Restricting Protest

In recent years, the Government has controversially tightened protest laws, giving police stronger powers to curb disruptions to key infrastructure covering major roads, transport systems, energy supply, and other critical infrastructure, drawing criticism from civil liberties and human rights organisations. Now, they are targeting protests against animal testing.

Using powers in the Public Order Act 2023, the Government plans to introduce amendments that designate life sciences infrastructure as ‘key national infrastructure’.

Risk of Imprisonment

If this goes ahead, any protests at animal testing sites could be treated as a criminal offence, punishable by up to one year's imprisonment. This could include online forms of protest too. It is essential that people retain the right to protest the use of animals in experiments. These victims cannot speak out or resist abuse themselves, so it is imperative that others can do so on their behalf.

Animals Tormented in Laboratories

All across the country, animals are being sliced open, injected, starved, electrocuted, mutilated, deprived of water, caged in barren conditions, and killed in horrific ways in experiments. Mice, rats, fish, dogs, pigs, horses, monkeys, rabbits, and chickens are all among the animals used.

Someone, Not Something

Every single animal used in experiments is someone, not something, who can feel pain just like we do. They are languishing behind closed doors in laboratories, where experimenters can subject them to painful experiments away from public view. Animal testing proves itself to be futile again and again – 90% of “highly promising” basic research findings, most of which involve tests on animals, fail to become routinely used treatments within 20 years.

MPs may have voted in favour of outlawing protests at animal testing sites – but we still have a chance to stop this ban from going ahead. Please tell these House of Lords peers to oppose the change at Wednesday’s debate.

View Message +

Dear {contact_data~firstName},

I am urging you to attend the debate on 21st January and oppose the Statutory Instrument (SI) that seeks to amend the Public Order Act 2023 to classify “life sciences infrastructure” as key national infrastructure. This amendment would make peaceful protest at or near animal testing facilities a criminal offence. Such a restriction on civil liberties is deeply concerning.
 
It is vital that people are able to peacefully protest against the use of animals in scientific experiments. Animals cannot speak out, whistle blow, or resist abuse themselves. Animal testing is also a distinctive area where the right to protest carries particular weight, given that public access to information is significantly limited under Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. 
 
This approach is particularly perplexing given the Government’s recent commitment to phase out all forms of animal testing other than in exceptional circumstances, acknowledging the need for science to transition to more advanced and reliable methods. Introducing laws that criminalise protest against practices the Government itself agrees should end is illogical and unjust.
 
This SI has already faced significant opposition in the House of Commons, with 110 MPs voting against it, reflecting widespread unease about the lack of consultation, impact assessment, and proper scrutiny.
 
You do not need to oppose animal testing to oppose this SI. You only need to believe in the importance of free expression, peaceful protest, and democratic accountability.
 
Please attend the debate on 21st January 2026 and speak out against this SI.

Thank you,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Address 1}
{user_data~City}
{user_data~Postcode}

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