Photo credit: Elliott Stallion on Unsplash
2025 Local Elections
Animal Welfare Party is delighted to announce three candidates standing in the May 1st Local Elections, each one making a small piece of history by being the first ever to stand for an animal party in their respective wards.
Lee Williscroft-Ferris, currently a sitting councillor for AWP on Hexham Town Council, Northumberland will stand in the ward of Humshaugh, Northumberland and for the Wark ward of Wark Parish Council.
Lee Williscroft-Ferris
Lee is a headteacher of a local school and, as a councillor on Hexham Town Council, he has worked hard to put people, animals and the planet at the forefront of the council’s work. Key aspects of his work have included chairing the Remembrance Day Sub-Committee, poverty-proofing the council’s events and signposting residents and visitors to local businesses.
As a councillor for Humshaugh ward, he intends to fight equally hard for this beautiful area, helping to make it an even better place to live, work and explore.
Gavin Ridley will stand in the Oxford Parks ward in Oxford. A lawyer by profession, Gavin studied and worked in the Oxford Parks ward and currently teaches at a sixth form college in the city.
Gavin Ridley
Gavin is also involved in the academic world of animal welfare, in addition volunteering for several organisations in the field.
He is the founder of the Pet Refuge Project, a charity assisting those affected by domestic abuse, specifically in relation to their companion animals.
“We share the planet and bear the tremendous responsibility of ensuring it is livable for future generations” says Gavin. “I believe it’s imperative that the interests of animals and nature are included when policy decisions are made, and that local councillors can and should hold people, animals and environment in equal importance. I firmly believe that politics should be characterised by compassion and honesty, be science-led and focused on social justice for people, animals and the environment.”
Tarnia Wilson will stand in the ward of Castle Donington and Kegworth in Leicestershire. Tarnia is a vegan small business owner and anti vivisection campaigner.
Tarnia Wilson
“Standing to be a councillor for Animal Welfare Party is a deeply personal mission for me” says Tarnia, “It’s an opportunity to bring my passion for animal rights, environmental sustainability and community wellbeing to local governance. I’m committed to championing policies that protect animals, promote sustainable living and foster harmony between people and nature. As a councillor, I would work tirelessly to give a voice to the voiceless, inspire meaningful change and ensure that compassion and fairness guide our decisions.”
AWP’s three candidates will be campaigning in their local areas ahead of the local elections on 1st May,
Local elections take place on 1st May for certain county councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan boroughs and mayoralties in England.
To find out if there are elections happening where you live and who your candidates are, please visit the link below and enter your postcode:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information
If you’re not already registered to vote, the deadline for registering to vote in the 1st May 2025 elections in England is 11:59pm on 11 April 2025. Find out more and register at the link below:
Please note, photo ID is now needed to vote in person. Find out more at the link below:
Interested in standing as a candidate for Animal Welfare Party in Future Elections?
