Celebrities and Politicians sign open letter calling for MBR Acres closure

In an open letter addressed to The Home Office and Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP, individuals from across the UK are calling for the immediate closure of MBR Acres, the Cambridgeshire based facility that breeds beagle puppies for use in animal testing. 

Photos: Channel 5, Ben Quinton/The Guardian, ITV

The letter highlights the fact that the UK is a nation of animal lovers and that animal testing is no longer a necessity. Furthermore, alternatives to animaltesting, such as cell culture, organ-on-chip, and in silico testing are cited in the document as being more reliable and causing far less suffering.

Celebrities and public figures such as Dame Joanna Lumley, Chris Packham, Jonathan Ross, and Amanda Holden have signed the letter, along with politicians from many of the major UK parties, and eminent animal protection and activist organisations. 

The letter sends a strong message to the Government that the public no longer wants animal testing to be carried out in the UK and that MBR Acres must be shut down, in order to allow for the phasing out of animal testing and a smooth transition to human-specific testing methods.