Yesterday (12 November), we held a Parliamentary reception in Westminster to call for an end to the use of cages for egg laying hens.

The event was well attended with at least 50 cross-party Parliamentarians present, showing their support for the End the Cage Age campaign. Several of our dedicated Patrons and High Profile Supporters – who have continued to be actively involved in raising the profile of our End the Cage Age campaign – also joined us, including Peter Egan, Dr Marc Abraham, Arthur Parkinson and Mike Beckingham. There were also representatives from food businesses who are working towards cage-free systems.

Cruel outdated systems

In the UK, every year around 7 million laying hens spend most of their lives in so-called 'enriched' cages, each with only around the space of an A4 sheet of paper. They are severely restricted in their ability to move around and carry out natural behaviours like stretching and flapping their wings or scratching. These cruel outdated systems are still legal in the UK, despite the fact that 75% of the British public think cages are cruel. We believe that the time is right for the UK Government to phase out cages, and this message was made loud and clear at yesterday’s event.

Irene Campbell, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, hosted the reception. Irene is an influential advocate for higher animal welfare and previously led the End the Cage Age debate in June 2025, following the successful parliamentary petition started by our Patron, Joanna Lumley.

Speaking at the event, Irene said:

For me this is a really important issue and one that I’m proud to support. I’ve been involved in animal welfare issues for many years and as a new MP it’s important for me to continue this work. It’s an area that crosses party lines and I’m glad to see there is much cross-party support to end this cruel and outdated way of farming.

Baroness Sue Hayman, Defra’s Animal Welfare Minister, added:

This is an issue that brings people together and the room here tonight really demonstrates that. Having better welfare for animals is something very important to me personally and being the Animal Welfare Minister gives me the opportunity to genuinely make a difference.

I’ve been working on the Animal Welfare Strategy, and we are very close to publishing that, there are a lot of things that we as a Government want to do to support animal welfare.

I keep hens myself and the idea of my beautiful hens being kept in a cage is just appalling. It shouldn’t be the case that, for profit, their welfare is undermined.

Stars agree it’s time to #DrawTheLine

At the event, artworks of hens produced by our wonderfully creative Patrons and High Profile Supporters, including Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes, Deborah Meaden and Chris Packham were exhibited. Each hen was crafted on an A4 sheet of paper representing the approximate amount of space laying hens have in a cage. These animals are sentient beings with their own personalities, something which was captured beautifully in each picture.

The hen images are part of a wider activation where 700 hundred drawings will be displayed in London next spring representing the 7 million hens caged in the UK.

Unimaginable suffering

Dr Amir Khan who supported the event said:

I am proud to be part of the 75% of the British public that think cages are cruel. As an NHS doctor, I believe in prevention over treatment. Getting hens out of cages would prevent unimaginable suffering for millions of hens in the UK every year. This move could even help to improve public health, with intensive factory farming practices often linked to higher rates of diseases, antibiotic resistance, and environmental damage. When we improve the lives of animals, we can improve our own lives too.

James West, our Chief Public Affairs Manager, commented: 

It’s encouraging to see policymakers engaging with this issue. There is clear, overwhelming support from MPs, celebrities, and the British public to End the Cage Age for egg laying hens – now it’s time for the Government to act and end this cruelty once and for all.

Please, email the UK Government and ask them to End the Cage Age for UK hens.

Parliamentarians & celebrities show support to End the Cage Age