Yesterday (14th December), a choir of children, led by our celebrity ambassador and actor Pauline McLynn, sang an adapted Christmas carol outside Defra’s headquarters in London, to plea for action to end factory farming.

Holding lanterns, the choir sang a re-worked version of Away in a Manger which highlighted the cruel truths of intensive farming and called on Defra to end the misery caused to so many animals when finalising their 25-year plan for British Farming.

Alex Jackson, our Head of European Campaigns, says: “If Defra’s 25 year plan goes ahead unchallenged, children born today will inherit a food production system where animals suffer unnoticed, where toxic, shrinking habitats fall silent, and where the overuse of antibiotics threatens us all.

“We want a better world for our children, and it is children who are helping us to deliver this powerful, heartfelt plea to government: end factory farming, and bring some peace on earth.”

Each member of the choir also delivered their Christmas wish to Defra - some asked for Defra to protect the planet from pollution caused by factory farming while others wished for animals in farms to have a life worth living.

The plan, as it stands, focuses on increased productivity, competitiveness and technology, while failing to tackle the environmental damage, dangers to human health and poor welfare standards to which factory farming contributes.

Father Ted and Eastenders star Pauline McLynn, who also read a modified version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to the group of young carollers, said: “While animals continue to be factory farmed, the land polluted and human health placed at risk, there are no tidings of comfort or joy.

“But Defra has the power to change this, to drive industry to adopt more responsible and more respectful ways of farming. This Christmas, these compassionate children will be pleading for a better world.”

Image copyright Jim Philpott Photography.