Prime Objective

HELP THE NEW P.M. MAKE ALL SPECIES THEIR TOP PRIORITY

Back towards the end of July a host of leading animal protection NGOs and celebrities signed an open letter calling for a commitment from the two prime ministerial candidates, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, to pass and strengthen more laws to protect animals, as sentient beings, from cruelty and exploitation.

Specific commitments requested in the letter were that they:

1. Prioritise time to allow the Kept Animals Bill to pass in the current Parliamentary session, delivering on manifesto commitments to end live exports for fattening and slaughter; introduce new laws to tackle low welfare puppy imports and pet abduction; and restrict the keeping of primates as pets, amongst other measures.

2. Progress legislation to protect the welfare of animals abroad, including bans on imports of hunting trophies, fur and foie gras, and the advertising of low welfare tourism activities overseas, such as elephant rides.

3. Strengthen existing legislation to: introduce compulsory cat microchipping; phase out use of cages in farming; prevent inhumane trapping and killing of wildlife (e.g. banning snares and expediting an end to the badger cull); support the Life Sciences sector in an accelerated transition to a goal of ending animal experiments; and, crucially, strengthen and extend the current laws on hunting with dogs.

But now, with time running out before the new candidate is decided upon, many animal charities are also calling on their supporters to send individual letters to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss asking for animal welfare and nature to be a priority. Below are just a few I've received via email recently who'd really love your support:-

You can sign a pre-written letter via email from Crustacean Compassion asking them to commit to Defra's Action Plan for Animal Welfare (a report produced by the previous government which set out improvements that would be made) so that the welfare of decapod crustaceans continues to be improved. Having made great strides, with the passing through Parliament of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act which was the first UK law to recognise decapods as sentient animals, they are keen the new Prime Minister, will pledge continuing protections of these sentient animals as part of their leadership campaign.

Read and sign HERE

Meanwhile Compassion in World Farming are asking for support in signing their own open letter, asking both candidates to honour the animal welfare commitments in their Action Plan, made in May 2021 so that farm animals have a life worth living. "We've since seen the Animal Sentience Act become law, but they haven't followed through on other promises, including several crucial steps for farmed animals such as banning live exports for slaughter or fattening, ensuring animal welfare standards are not compromised in future trade deals, examining the use of farmed animal cage and consulting on animal welfare labelling of meat and dairy products." You can sign view and sign their open letter HERE.

Greenpeace are appealing to the leadership candidates to keep nature high on the agenda as both are threatening to remove the Habitats Regulations - which protects all sorts of species on hundreds of sites in England. They describe the current regulation as "one of the most fundamental protections we have to safeguard nature and wildlife" as it currently protects more than 1,000 species from porpoises to fen orchids and ensures there is a proper assessment of environmental risks before any new development or infrastructure project can go ahead. They said, "The Conservative party likes to tell us that 'conservation has always been at the very heart of Conservativism.' Let's hold them to it."

You can read more and sign their petition HERE to protect and restore nature in England.