Former Tuxford School student standing in London Mayoral Elections for Animal Welfare Party to ‘end speciesism’

A former Tuxford School student is standing in the London Mayoral Elections for the Animal Welfare Party on a mission to ‘end speciesism’.

Vanessa Hudson, who grew up in East Markham and attended Tuxford School from 1984 to 1991, is one of 19 hopefuls vying to take the mayorship from incumbent Sadiq Khan.

Vanessa, a media producer by profession who still returns frequently to the area, became interested in the rights of animals and planet as a teenager, following an assembly at Tuxford School in which a visiting speaker spoke to students about intensive animal farming.

She said she has never forgotten that lesson and it has gone on to inform much of her career.

“I’m standing to be Mayor of London because, as we emerge from this dreadful zoonotic pandemic, I never want us to find ourselves in this situation again," said Vanessa.

“Of course, alongside the health crisis, our global society is also battling crises of climate and of biodiversity — all of which threaten life as we know it. I believe our unequal relationship with animals and the environment has been a driving factor.

“I feel we face a choice, continue along the path that brought us here or decide to lead the world in a new way forwards with London acting as a beacon of innovation and of healthy, sustainable, compassionate living.”

Over six million London voters go the polls on May 6 to select the city’s next Mayor and 25 Assembly Members.