Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, has urged for renewed efforts to phase out animal testing during a discussion at the Conservative Party Conference with Isobel Martin from Animal Free Research UK. Their meeting focused on the Government's unmet commitment to eliminate animal testing.

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Within Mr. Obese-Jecty's constituency lies MBR Acres, a facility breeding beagles for scientific and medical research. The site, owned by Marshall BioResources, is capable of producing up to 2,000 dogs annually for laboratory testing.

MBR Acres has faced persistent protests that emphasize animal welfare concerns and ethical questions regarding animal testing. Mr. Obese-Jecty highlighted the facility's status as a focal point for campaigners, criticizing the Government for its legal measures to restrict protest activities at the site.

He expressed frustration over the Home Office's continued issuance of licences for animal testing, despite the commitment to implement the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, expected later this year. Additionally, he cast doubt on the efficacy of the Home Office’s Animals in Science Regulation Unit, citing its lack of routine unannounced inspections.

These concerns arise ahead of an impending Home Office report regarding animal welfare shortcomings in UK laboratories. Mr. Obese-Jecty indicated that as a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Phasing Out Animal Testing in Medical Research, he intends to persist in raising these issues with Chris McDonald, the newly appointed minister overseeing the strategy.

Protests outside MBR Acres intensified following the release of footage showing beagles in 2021, and activists have maintained a continuous presence at the site since July of that year. In a previous letter to science minister Lord Patrick Vallance, Mr. Obese-Jecty noted that replacing animal testing could span over a decade, requiring collaborative efforts from the government, regulators, and pharmaceutical industries.

MBR Acres asserts that it operates within Home Office regulations and is subject to an ongoing High Court injunction.