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Vote-OK is a group of political activists which were active on the topic of hunting animals during the 2005, 2010 and 2015 general election campaigns in the United Kingdom.

Vote-OK came into being in 2005 through the efforts of Gloucestershire farmer Charles James Mann, his wife Carole (nickname 'Chipps'), and Jeremy Sweeney, a former lobbyist. Charles Mann, a longstanding pro-hunt campaigner and Beacon Co-ordinator during the Liberty and Livelihood campaign marches, ran the Action Office for the Countryside Alliance between 1997 and 2005 but was required to step down because of legislation regarding electoral campaigning.

The group stands as a single issue lobby group and is a Registered Recognised Third Party, one of only 11 in the country. Its main aim is to galvanise and organise more people to get involved in political campaigning in order to defeat any Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the Hunting Act 2004. Their tactic is to aid other candidates in any constituency where the sitting MP supported a ban in order to bring about a government that will repeal the Hunting Act. This usually means supporting the Conservative Party candidate.

2010 general election

Vote-OK stated it had helped more than 30 pro-hunt MPs win or keep seats. Conservative leader David Cameron had pledged to give a free vote on repealing the Hunting Act if he won, but within the coalition that won this was not possible.

2015 general election

The Independent reported that they believed candidates Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) and Ben Howlett (Bath) accepted help from Vote-OK.

See also

  • Countryside Alliance
  • Pressure groups in the United Kingdom

References

  • Official website