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First vet elected to House of Commons since 1880
Dr Hudson has worked in large and small animal practice, both in the UK and Australia.

New MP hopes to bolster support for animal welfare

Equine veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Hudson has been elected as Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border, becoming the first vet to be elected to the House of Commons since 1880.

Dr Hudson initially studied at the University of Cambridge, going on to gain a Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Studies from the University of Sydney. Finally, he moved to Edinburgh, where he earned his Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine.

Currently, Dr Hudson is a senior veterinary clinical lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. He has worked in large and small animal practice, both in the UK and Australia.

Dr Hudson has expressed his investment in upholding high standards of animal welfare in the UK, as well as support for numerous animal welfare pledges outlined in the Conservative Manifesto. These include:

  • Banning imports from trophy-hunting and bringing the ivory ban into force
  • Expanding mandatory microchipping to include cats
  • Banning excessively long journeys for slaughter and fattening
  • Tougher sentences for animal cruelty cases
  • Cracking down on illegal puppy smuggling.

As part of his election campaign, Dr Hudson attended a round table meeting focusing on rural businesses and met with farmers at various local marts to discuss issues facing the industry.

Receiving 28,875 votes, Dr Hudson is the fifth MP to represent the Penrith and the Border constituency. Many hope that his extensive, real-world experience will bolster support for policies surrounding rural affairs, animal welfare and education.

Image (c) The University of Edinburgh

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

Click here for more...
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Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk