[WATCH] Brian May calls for an end to spring hunting ‘cruelty’

Last night thousands of persons gathered in St George’s Square in Valletta to attend a concert by Queen guitarist Brian May.

Together with Kerry Ellis, the celebrated musician played a string of Queen classics to the crowd’s acclaim.

However, one of the biggest cheers came after May, an animal rights activist, told the audience to vote against spring hunting and “end the cruelty.”

Last week, the Coalition Against Spring Hunting  submitted 44,376 signatures to petition for an abrogative referendum on spring hunting. The petitions, which have to be now validated by the Electoral Commission, should satisfy the 10% of registered voters on the electoral register.

The Electoral Commission has 15 days to verify the signatures and present a request to the Constitutional Court to request a referendum.

In the forthcoming three months, objections can be filed in court and once the court upholds the request for a referendum, it must be held within not less than three months, and by not more than six months. This would be the first abrogative referendum Malta.

Admitting that he “hates” politics and politicians, May told the audience in Valletta that he had to get up to his knees in politics “in order to try to make a difference to the way in which we treat not only our fellow human beings but our fellow creatures on this planet.”

Praising Malta’s democratic system which allows citizens to hold a referendum to abrogate laws, May urged members of the audience to vote against spring hunting.  

“I just want to say to you, if I may stick my nose in, when the time comes for the referendum please put your vote in to end the cruelty of the spring hunting,” May said to the crowds’ cheers and applause. 

May is a staunch supporter of the RSPCA, the International Fund For Animal Welfare, the League Against Cruel Sports, PETA UK and the Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue.

The Queen guitarist has also formed a group to promote animal welfare in the UK. A Conservative Party voter for most of his life,  May has stated that he did not vote for David Cameron’s Tories in 2010 because of their policies on fox hunting and the culling of badgers.

His group, Save Me - named after a Queen song - campaigns for the protection of all animals against unnecessary, cruel and degrading treatment; with a particular emphasis on preventing hunting of foxes and the culling of badgers.

May is a PHd graduate in astrophysics after having studied physics and mathematics at the Imperial College London.

In an interview in September 2010 on BBC's HARDtalk programme, May said that he would rather be remembered for his animal rights work than for his music or scientific work.