2026 Scottish Parliament Elections | Animal Welfare Party
The UK Political Party for People, Animals and the Environment
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2026 Scottish Parliament Elections
Animal Welfare Party will stand in the region of Edinburgh and Lothians East in the upcoming Scottish Parliament Election on 7th May.
Animal Welfare Party’s party list candidates for the region are Mark Scott, Lee Williscroft-Ferris, Vivienne Moir and Jane Smith.
Animal Welfare Party’s vision for Scotland includes:
Leading on ending animal testing by using all levers to promote the development of animal-free science in Scotland
Improving human health, saving vital NHS funds & acting on climate breakdown by promoting a transition to healthy & sustainable plant-based diets
Introducing Animal Welfare & Sentience into the Scottish school curriculum
Strengthening existing farmed animal welfare legislation to include farmed fish & crustaceans and halting salmon farm expansion
Prioritising companion animal welfare by stopping the sale of animals online & in shops, phasing out the exotic pet trade and making ‘pet theft’ a specific offence
Ending the guga hunt and improving protections for all Scottish seabirds
Urgent creation of affordable, social homes whilst ensuring mandatory consideration for wild animals & their habitats in planning legislation
Banning the use of farrowing crates for pigs and cages for laying hens & gamebirds
Outlawing electric shock collars for Scotland’s dogs and ending breed-specific legislation
Leading on alternatives to fireworks displays such as laser, drone & light shows, reducing distress for people & animals
The Use of Animals in Science
During this election campaign, Animal Welfare Party has chosen to highlight the issue of animal use in science in Scotland and, in particular, the use of endangered, long-tailed macaques.
Every month, hundreds of endangered monkeys are being flown into the UK via Manchester Airport as ‘live imports’ destined for vivisection laboratories across the UK, including laboratories in Scotland. The long-tailed macaques, descendants of wild-caught animals, are raised in breeding facilities overseas before enduring gruelling flights into Manchester and onward journeys by road.
Since 2022, long-tailed macaques have been designated an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List, a critical inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of species.
Animal Welfare Party has long called for an end to these ‘flights of misery’, maintaining that the UK should close all ports to the import of live animals for the purpose of animal testing.
We believe that the import of and use of macaques for scientific procedures is something that runs counter to the wishes of citizens in Scotland and that this issue must be one that is debated during the Scottish Parliament Election campaign. We maintain that the Scottish Government can and must use all levers at its disposal to show leadership on ending animal use and champion the development of animal-free science.
At the same time, together with Cheshire Animal Rights Campaigns and Action For Primates, Animal Welfare Party has launched a petition calling on Manchester Airport to include the endangered status of long-tailed macaques in their Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy to further align Manchester Airport plc with its ethical and environmental goals. Our petition can be found
here
More information about animal use in science in the UK can be found
here
About our Candidates for Edinburgh & Lothians East Region
Mark Scott
Mark Scott is teacher and proud Scot. He joined Animal Welfare Party six years ago as he saw nothing in any other party that gave a voice to animals.
He finds it unbelievable that in 2026 there are such draconian laws that negatively affect wildlife every single day.
He believes that the only way to change this is to give animals a proper voice in Holyrood. That can only be achieved by voting AWP.
Lee Williscroft-Ferris
Lee is a Headteacher and long-time political activist. He passionately believes in including animal welfare and sentience in the Scottish curriculum to ensure that children grow up with a sense of belonging within a healthy and respectful ecosystem.
Lee has been involved in environmental politics for many years and served as a town councillor, where he introduced an innovative scheme to accredit local businesses for their plant-based options.
He is also a trade union branch secretary and a keen supporter of Edinburgh’s many vegan establishments.
Vivienne Moir
For Vivienne, animal welfare is a lifelong calling rather than a political talking point. She understands that the way a community treats its animals is a direct reflection of its heart.
With a professional background rooted in conservation and a personal life defined by animal welfare campaigning, Vivienne brings a rare blend of scientific expertise and compassionate leadership to the political arena.
Vivienne holds a BSc (Honours) in Biology (Environmental Science) from the University of Aberdeen and a MSc in Marketing from Strathclyde University.
Her commitment to the planet is further evidenced by her work with globally recognised organisations, including WWF and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, where she worked within fundraising and marketing departments to drive support for critical conservation efforts.
As a Director of her own companion animal care business, Vivienne remains actively engaged in the welfare of animals within her local community.
She advocates for an end to speciesism and a transition toward a society that recognises the severe impact of exploitation on all living beings.
“We are all a part of nature. The way we exploit the Earth and non-human species has a severe impact on all our welfare. It is time for a fairer society that includes both human and non-human species alike.”
Jane Smith
Jane Smith is a psychotherapist and deputy leader of Animal Welfare Party. In 2017 she became the party’s first-ever councillor and was re-elected in 2019, spearheading local initiatives around environment, wildlife, companion animals and social justice.
Jane co-leads the campaign to end the live imports of endangered macaque monkeys through Manchester Airport destined for vivisection labs nationwide, including Scotland, as well as running a badger protection group and a migratory toad crossing numbering 85 volunteers. She is an adoptive mother of three and has two rescue dogs.
Information about the Scottish Parliament Elections
At Scottish Parliament elections, every voter has two votes: one for their constituency and one for their region.
With the constituency vote, voters choose an individual candidate to represent them.
With the regional vote, voters choose a party or independent candidate to represent them.
Find out more about the Scottish Parliament Elections
here
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The UK Political Party for People, Animals and the Environment