Michael Paul Tutton Leahy (30 December 1934 – 7 May 2007) was an English conservative philosopher and opponent of animal rights and vegetarianism.
[2] He took influence from Ludwig Wittgenstein and argued that animals are "primitive beings" that lack beliefs and language, therefore they cannot have desires or interests.
[7] Leahy has been described as "one of a group of right-wing philosophers who challenged the left-liberal consensus, and his opposition to animal rights inevitably excited the anger of campaigners.
"[2] Wary of threats from animal rights activists, he was known to have checked his car and mail for bombs.
On one occasion he called the bomb disposal unit about a suspicious package, but it turned out to be a pair of glasses from his optician.