It seems quite inevitable right now that when the election comes later this year, David Cameron will be our Prime Minister for the next four years. Of course, there are many reasons for this being a bad thing, one just needs to take a look at the Conservative manifesto. For the vegan/vegetarian community, and for animal rights supporters all over the UK, the Tories coming in to power will deal an extra blow; the legalisation of fox hunting once again. 

Back in 2009 David Cameron announced that lifting the ban on fox hunting is going to be a priority if the Tories win the next general election. With the election looming and it looking more and more likely that the Tories will win, something definitely needs to be done to fight this. Campaigners and activists have succeeded before in having fox hunting banned, now it's time to stop that ban being lifted. 

So, making the link between violence to humans and violence to animals?  I like it personally.  The fact that the advert only received one complaint is pretty good!  But why did the ASA choose to uphold that complaint when usually it takes many many more? 

The ASA claimed that the "image used in the ad had been used in a shocking way merely to attract attention and that the reason did not justify the means in this case," . 

PETA says that the ad was "well within the prevailing standards of decency" and that it was not possible to educate the public about the supposed link between animal and human abuse "without anticipating some fear and distress".

Either way the ASA has done PETA a favour with them being able to hog some of the front page stories the past two days.

We have heard of the news today that Stella McCartney is partnering with living legend Morrissey to launch a collection of vegan shoes. “I’m working with Morrissey on a line of leather-free shoes which I’m really excited about,” McCartney told the Mail Online. “We are still in the early stages but the shoes could be launched next year.”

Check out Plymouth's finest, Crazy Arm who have just released their debut record 'Born To Ruin' on Xtra Mile Recordings (former home of UK politic-punk heroes Million Dead). The band are all vegan/vegetarian, internationalist and atheist; identify with human and animal rights struggles; and support the efforts of grass-roots activists worldwide.

The band were born of NoComply and The Once Over Twice, and although forming in May 2005, it wasn't until their respective bands split up a year later that they became a more serious concern. The band describe themselves as "Fugazi with banjos, but without banjos". Sounds interesting? Hit them up on the web for a taste.

I know a lot of vegans who have got the food side of things down, but worry about how to live fully animal-free. I've even known some have avoided washing their hair just to make sure they weren't using animal-derived shampoo. Disgusting, but thorough, I guess. However... If you're not sure how to keep yourself squeaky clean then check out Lush. They also have a worldwide site here.

Lush were founded in 1994 by husband and wife team Mark and Mo Constantine, both vegetarian. All of their products are made from organic fruits and vegetables, they totally oppose animal testing and most of their products are clearly marked as vegan. They usually bear the Vegan Society logo, but check them out on an individual basis as a small percentage of them contain beeswax, honey, free range eggs or lanolin. 65% of their products are also preservative free. So they're ticking a lot of good boxes!

They have stores in most major cities in the UK, as well as tons worldwide, but you can buy via mail-order and online. Definitely worth hitting up for soaps, deodorants, shower gels, bath bombs, hair products and shaving foams. And more besides!