Brian May resigns from his role as RSPCA vice president citing welfare concerns.
- Allegations include overcrowding and poor hygiene at ‘RSPCA Assured’ farms.
- Investigations exposed over 40 farms not meeting welfare standards.
- May describes RSPCA’s response to the findings as inadequate.
- Prominent figures support May’s call for reform within the RSPCA.
Brian May, a well-respected figure due to his prominent career in Queen, has announced his resignation as vice president of the RSPCA. His decision was motivated by grave concerns regarding animal welfare standards at farms certified by the organisation’s ‘RSPCA Assured’ scheme. This certification was intended to guarantee consumers that animal products meet high welfare standards, covering approximately 4,000 farms and supermarkets.
Recent allegations have surfaced involving over 40 such certified farms, pointing to significant issues including overcrowding and substandard hygiene. Reports also mention the physical mistreatment of livestock, which contravenes the welfare standards purportedly upheld by the certification.
Taking to social media, Brian May articulated his profound disappointment and the extensive contemplation preceding his decision to resign. He stated, “It is with profound sadness and not without massive soul-searching that today I have to offer my resignation as a vice-president of the RSPCA.”
May criticised the organisation’s response to these disturbing revelations as lacking. He observed that the RSPCA seemed to require ample time to assess the evidence and decide on appropriate actions, a response he described as wholly inadequate given the weight of the evidence presented.
Animal rights activists have echoed May’s concerns, presenting findings from their investigations of more than 200 ‘RSPCA Assured’ farms. They have demanded heightened accountability from RSPCA leadership, pressuring president Chris Packham to resign. Despite May’s firm stance, Chris Packham and Caroline Lucas, another vice president, have indicated that it would be inappropriate for them to step down before the results of an independent review are available.
This controversy has garnered attention from several prominent figures, including celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, Bryan Adams, and Joanna Lumley, who have all called for urgent reforms within the RSPCA.
The recent resignation of Brian May underscores critical concerns about welfare standards in RSPCA-certified farms.
