Now the election results have been announced, we need to ensure that the welfare needs of farm animals in the UK feature on the agenda of our new political representatives.

With so many of our best "animal welfare friends" no longer in Westminster, we need to encourage MPs to become the new generation of welfare champions. For example, we need MPs who will table Early Day Motions or Private Members' Bills to further our cause and who will be active members of the All Party Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), which meets regularly to see how MPs can take action within the political system to advance key animal welfare issues.

Meeting with the new Defra minister

As soon as the new Defra minister is announced, Compassion will write to them, highlighting key farm animal welfare issues and requesting a meeting.

Lobbying your new MP to support farm animal welfare

Once MPs have returned to Parliament on Tuesday 18 May, we will also need you to take action:

We will invite you to use our website to write to your MP and ask them to support farm animal welfare, highlighting four key demands to which we need them to give particular attention during the next parliamentary session:

1. the EU-wide ban on conventional battery cages for laying hens which is due to come into force on 1 January 2012 - this must not be postponed

2. the UK ban on the beak trimming of laying hens which is due to come into force on 1 January 2011 - this must not be postponed without a new specific commencement date being set

3. high standards of animal welfare for the procurement of food and meals by the public sector - these need to be put in place, extending not just to eggs but also to meat and milk

4. the factory farming of dairy cows - this must be brought to an end

You will be able to check whether your MP already has a track record of supporting farm animal welfare or not, and use a relevant template letter accordingly.

We will ask you to print and send a paper letter: our new MPs will be receiving large amounts of correspondence on a variety of issues, and a paper letter will be more likely to be noticed than an email.

Take action

Please return to our website on or after Friday 21 May 2010 to take action and write to your MP - so they know that, throughout the next parliamentary session, we will be there lobbying them to advance the welfare of farm animals.

Sign up for emails using the form to the left and we will contact you when this action can be completed.

Farm animal welfare and our new MPs