In July, we joined forces with animal NGOs across the UK to write to the Conservative Leadership candidates, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, asking if they would commit to the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
You might remember that the Action Plan was introduced last year and contains a raft of promises to improve animal welfare in the UK and abroad. This includes measures to tackle puppy smuggling, ban the import of dogs with cropped ears, and end the live export of some farmed species for slaughter and fattening. We think it’s vital that the promises contained in the plan are seen to fruition.
Animal welfare matters
Very few people will get to decide who our next Prime Minister will be. But whether you have a say or not, we know you’ll be interested in what the two candidates have said about animal welfare in the course of the leadership race. We’ll keep this page updated with links to any statements the candidates have reportedly made about this important issue. We will only include statements that the candidates have made, rather than highlighting issues they haven’t commented upon.
As a charity, Naturewatch Foundation is politically neutral and the reproduction of the below statements should not be considered an endorsement or otherwise of either candidate. If we have omitted any statements made by the candidates about animal welfare in the course of the leadership contest, please email us at info@naturewatch.org with the source and we will be happy to update this page.
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Rishi Sunak
In response to the stakeholder letter we sent with fellow NGOs in July…
Firstly, Rishi shares your high regard for animal welfare. As you know, the UK was the first country in the world to pass legislation to protect animals with the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act in 1822. Within weeks of being Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher introduced the Farm Animal Welfare Committee. Since then, Conservative governments have led the way in animal welfare.
The Government has set out a series of ambition reforms as outlined in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Since 2010, we have banned the use of conventional battery cages for laying hens, made CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses across England, banned the use of wild animals in circuses and introduced the strongest ivory ban in the world. Other measures introduced include the mandatory microchipping of dogs in 2015 and the modernisation of the licensing system for dog breeding and pet sales. In 2021, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act came into force, raising the maximum sentence for animal cruelty from 6 months to 5 years.
As you know, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act formally recognises animals as sentient beings in domestic law and ensures that animal sentience is taken into account when developing policy across Government through the creation of an Animal Sentience Committee, which will be made up of animal experts from within the field.
Furthermore, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will bring in some of the world’s strongest protections for pets, livestock and kept wild animals. This includes introducing a ban on keeping primates as pets, banning the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, and also addressing the unethical trade of puppy smuggling by reducing the number of pets that can travel under pet travel rules. Rishi looks forward to championing this Bill as it continues to progress through Parliament.
Finally, Rishi is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from thousands of species. This will be one of the toughest bans in the world and will protect endangered animals and help to strengthen and support long-term conservation.
(Source: https://twitter.com/HSIUKorg/status/1558024066895941632?s=20&t=59EAqEXJxTeTZLwHKkwExA)
On supporting the Action Plan for Animal Welfare and the Kept Animals Bill…
“Yes… the answer is, of course, yes.”
(Source: https://www.conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org/latest-news-updates/conservative-leadership-candidate-rishi-sunak-responds-to-a-question-by-our-co-founder-lorraine-platt/)
On repealing the Hunting Act 2004…
Rishi Sunak has reportedly said he has no plans to make changes to the Hunting Act.
(Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62410368)
On banning fur sales and imports…
“Rishi appreciates that there is considerable support for banning all imports of fur products. However, while there are existing restrictions, it is still possible to import other fur from abroad. The Government sought views on animal welfare through a recent call for evidence and 30,000 responses were received from businesses, representative bodies and individuals, demonstrating strong public interest in this area. If successful, Rishi will continue to build an evidence base, which will be used to inform future action on the fur trade.”
(Source: https://twitter.com/HSIUKorg/status/1550378266602651648/photo/1)
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Liz Truss
On the Kept Animals Bill…
During a hustings about the environment on 17/08/22, Lord Goldsmith said that Liz Truss has “committed to seeing through the Kept Animals Bill.”
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBNSLT37jNo)
On repealing the Hunting Act 2004…
“You might know I’m an MP in Norfolk, which is a fantastic place for country sports – we have a very strong shooting industry, I’m very, very supportive of country sports.
“I remember being a minister under David Cameron’s government and looking at this issue, and I think opening Pandora’s box could possibly make the situation worse for people who enjoy country sports.
“So, whilst I share your love of rural pastimes and I’m a strong supporter of all the fantastic conservation work the shooting industry does, I think we’ve got to be very careful about opening that box.”
(Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1649096/Liz-Truss-tory-leadership-race-latest-Exeter-hustings-live-next-prime-minister-hunting-vn)
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We’re also supporting this petition, which asks the Government to make time for the Kept Animals Bill to complete its passage through Parliament and become law. If you have a moment, please sign and share it with your family and friends.
