Today marks the state opening of Parliament: a ceremonious affair, during which the monarch announces the Government’s legislative plans for the Parliamentary year ahead. But this year, it wasn’t just the Queen missing from the Queen’s Speech.
Animals Abroad Bill abandoned
Along with our friends in the #DontBetrayAnimals coalition, we were hoping for an announcement about a new Animals Abroad Bill that would make good on Government promises to ban fur sales and foie gras imports. Promises that 77% of you support.*
Unfortunately, the Government seems to have dropped these promises.
We’re disappointed the Government appears to have turned its back on the foxes, racoon dogs, mink, ducks, and geese who experience unimaginable suffering in conditions that would be illegal in the UK. All to produce products that the majority of the British public abhor.
Instead, it has indicated that controversial gene editing of farmed animals will be allowed.
Broken promises
Not only has the Government turned its back on animals today. It’s also ignored the wishes of you – the animal loving public. Nearly three quarters of you want the Government to pass more laws to protect animals.*
It’s a year since the Government announced its Action Plan for Animal Welfare. And yet its commitment to animals looks increasingly under threat. As a professed leader in animal welfare, the UK had an opportunity to set an example to the rest of the world. An opportunity the Government didn’t take.
Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation, said: “We are appalled that the Government has dropped its plans to bring in a ban on imports of foie gras and fur. By leaving out the promised Animals Abroad Bill from the Queen’s Speech, the Government has gone back on its commitments to improve animal protection laws. We will not be deterred and will work with organisations and campaigners across animal welfare to see the Government commitments re-introduced.”
The fight will continue
Animals were betrayed today, but we’ll never stop fighting for their welfare. Although we’re a UK charity, we work tirelessly for animals at home and abroad. That’s because we know that animals don’t care about borders. And cruelty is unacceptable, no matter where in the world it takes place. The Government made promises. And we promise to work with our coalition friends to make sure they keep them.
What you can do
If you want to see the sale and import of fur and foie gras banned, sign the petition created by our patron, Chris Packham.
Sign the petition
Naturewatch Foundation is proud to be part of the #DontBetrayAnimals coalition of leading animal groups that includes Animal Aid, Animal Equality UK, Born Free Foundation, Compassion in World Farming, FOUR PAWS UK, Humane Society International/UK, The Humane League UK, League Against Cruel Sports, LUSH, PETA UK, RSPCA, Save The Asian Elephants, and World Animal Protection UK. We’re also proud members of the Better Deal for Animals coalition of 38 animal organisations.
*You can read more about the statistics contained in this update here
Photo Credit: Luis Tato / HIDDEN / We Animals Media
