Brian May quits RSPCA role over Assured scheme scandal

The Queen guitarist said in a post on Instagram that he took the decision after a period of “massive soul-searching” ​and with “profound sadness”.​

The move comes three months after an undercover investigation into the RSPCA Assured scheme by activist group Animal Rising​​. After filming at 45 Assured farms, the group released footage which showed chickens piled on top of each other and pigs being left to die in unsanitary conditions.

At the time, the charity’s president Chris Packham described the footage filmed on certified farms as “indefensible”, ​while Animal Rising called for the Assured scheme to be scrapped.

According to the RSPCA website, all Assured farms “must comply with the RSPCA’s stringent higher welfare standards”.​​

The RSPCA has since launched an internal review into the scheme, while its chief executive Chris Sherwood stepped down to take a role with the NSPCC.​​

May’s statement

Outlining the reasons for his resignation, May wrote: “You have kept me informed through the Save-Me Trust of complaints that have been levelled in recent months at the RSPCA over appallingly bad standards of animal welfare in member farms of the RSPCA Assured scheme.​

“I have understood that the RSPCA needed time to evaluate the evidence and make decisions on action to be taken. But as more and more evidence comes to light, I find the RSPCA’s response completely inadequate.​

“In line with the organisation’s core principles, and in the clear knowledge that supervision of the Assured scheme had failed and was continuing to fail, I feel the only acceptable policy would have been complete dismantling of the scheme. Instead, the RSPCA have tried to defend their position, and in doing so, in my view, have sacrificed their integrity.”​

In conclusion, May said that he could not remain in the position while the RSPCA “avoids its responsibilities to put its house in order”.​

Meanwhile, Animal Rising actions coordinator and lead investigator on the RSCPA campaign Rose Patterson commented: “Brian is right in saying the RSPCA have sacrificed their integrity. By supporting this scheme through scandal after scandal, the RSPCA has turned its back on its core values of protecting all animals. We have shown conclusively that these farms aren’t just a few bad apples – the whole scheme is rotten.​

“60 animal protection groups have come together to urge the RSPCA to finally drop this awful scheme, which is tarnishing the good work done elsewhere by the RSPCA. When someone as committed to animal protection as Brian May has to denounce the charity he loves, it’s clear the game is up. Our investigations have shown that even at the so-called highest standard, cruelty is endemic in animal farming. As the world’s largest animal charity, the RSPCA needs to drop the scheme and stop endorsing the use of animals on farms.”​

RSPCA responds

An RSPCA spokesperson said that the organisation respected the views of May and understood his decision to step down, while also thanking him for his service as a vice president.

The spokesperson continued: “As Sir Brian knows from his work on bovine TB, improving standards for farmed animals is tough. We both agree that the rapid growth of low welfare industrial farming is the biggest welfare issue facing animals.​

“But the reality is 94% of people currently choose to eat meat. There are billions of animals being farmed right now in appalling conditions, with no regard for their welfare. There is currently no specific legal protection for salmon, trout, turkeys, dairy cattle, beef cattle and sheep, and without our standards many millions of farmed animals would live worse lives.​

“But we want to give our supporters, partners and the public confidence that RSPCA Assured is consistently delivering better welfare than standard farming practices. So, we launched an independent review of RSPCA Assured, which has been carried out over several months, including unannounced visits to more than 200 members of the scheme. Once we have analysed our findings, we will take any robust action necessary.”​

In other news, Co-op has recalled several batches of pate because packs may have been contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.​​