HSA Chair with Terrorism Links Welcomed to Parliament

Hunt Saboteurs Association chairman welcomed into Parliament despite links to extremist group and criminal damage charges

In June, Members of Parliament threw open the doors of Westminster to welcome the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) for a cosy reception called "Hounds of Wildlife." Among the activists rubbing shoulders with elected officials was a man so toxic that even the police refused to work with him. Simon Russell is HSA's Chairperson and a known supporter of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) - an extremist group whose activities have been classified as domestic terrorism by the United States and are monitored by UK authorities.

A Cosy Night at Parliament

The reception, hosted by SNP MP Seamus Logan with Labour MPs Irene Campbell and Ruth Jones, aimed to strengthen the 2004 Hunting Act and ban trophy imports into Britain. Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock, the Minster for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals delivered the keynote address to an audience of MPs and Peers.

Baroness Sue Hayman

However, it was the HSA's main speaker who should have raised the most eyebrows: Simon Russell, a man with deep ties to extremist animal rights activism and a criminal past that should make most politicians run a mile.

The ALF Connection

Russell isn't just sympathetic to the ALF – he's a vocal supporter of the far-left extremist group. His commitment to the cause was so strong that he was once arrested for conspiracy to incite persons unknown to commit criminal damage while serving as editor of their supporters' group newspaper.

In 1997, he stood trial at Portsmouth Crown Court alongside four editors of Green Anarchist on conspiracy charges. The five faced accusations stemming from their reporting of actions carried out by groups including the ALF.

This wasn't ordinary journalism – Russel’s reporting allegedly incited others to break the law in support of a violent extremist agenda. And now he has now been given a platform to speak at the heart of British democracy.

Too Extreme Even for LACS

Here's where it gets truly damning. In 2019, Russell was dismissed from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) because the police wouldn't work with him. LACS, facing a split between hardline activists and new leadership, had no choice but to cut ties with Russell and several other senior figures.

If a charity that counts alleged sex offender Dan Norris MP among its former chairs found Russell too problematic to keep on staff, why are MPs sharing a platform with him?

Peter Egan, former Vice-President of LACS

Hiding in the Shadows

Interestingly, Russell seems to prefer keeping a low profile these days. The HSA's own article about the Parliamentary reception didn't even name him as a speaker – a curious omission for someone supposedly representing the organisation at such a high-profile event.

Fortunately, a picture says a thousand words and Russell's presence at the event is well documented.

Simon Russell speaking in Parliament in June

Simon Russell was too extreme for LACS. He was too problematic for police cooperation. He has a history of supporting extremist groups and faced charges for conspiracy to incite criminal damage.

Yet somehow, he was welcomed into Parliament with open arms.