Recently in the UK, Rishi Sunak reversed one of the good things that Boris Johnson did as Prime Minister, and scrapped one of the most forward-thinking animal welfare package of laws ever seen. Whatever your views of him, Tory MP Zac Goldsmith resigned saying he was ‘horrified that the kept animals bill has been ditched’. RSPCA and British Veterinary Association were also appalled, as the Bill would have tackled puppy smuggling, banned import of dogs with cropped ears and reviewed zoo standards.
Advocates for Animals is the first UK law firm that works with individuals, animal groups and activists on a wide range of legal areas, to enforce and protect animals. A-Law has lots of free info onsite, collectively run by volunteer lawyers. These organisations are similar to the USA’s Animal Legal Defense Fund whose attorneys specialise in helping animal legal cases, and also work to improve animal welfare laws.
Why Did MPs Rip the Animal Welfare Bill?
No matter what you thought of him (and for most of us, that was not a lot), one of the few brilliant things that Boris Johnson did while Prime Minister, was create and try to pass through the Kept Animals Bill. The name does not sound good, but it was the biggest package of animal welfare changes in modern history. It would have banned puppy mills, imports of trophy hunting and made stronger penalties for those who abused animals. It would have included new measures to tackle livestock worrying, banned import of ill dogs for breeding and banned keeping primates as pets. Even game birds (pheasants), llamas and ostriches would have been given greater protection.
Then Rishi Sunak got rid of it, before it even came into law. Now there is an Animal Sentience Commitee instead (talking around a table). Even Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns launched an online petition, urging him to rethink dropping the bill, something that all the major animal welfare charities are appalled at. The Bill was dropped with just 5 more hours to debate, before it would have gone to the House of Lords for approval.
These dropped animal welfare pledges could be pivotal, when assessing the UK government’s page in the history books. From ending the live export of animals to dealing with pet theft and stopping the import of dogs with cropped ears, there’s so this government promised, which has sadly found its way onto the Whitehall scrapheap. Emma Slawinksi (director of policy RSPCA)
Yet the strange issue is that Rishi Sunak is a devout Hindu, a religion that is known for being kind to animals. He made history when using the Bhagavad Gita (over the Bible) to be sworn in, and has told journalists that his deep faith guides his every decision as Prime Minister. If you’ve ever done yoga, you’ll know that the main doctrines of the faith are ahimsa (do no harm) and karma (all living beings should be treated with respect, as Hindus believe in reincarnation for their actions in this life).
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill was introduced in December 2023, following the colossal betrayal to animals with the scrapping of the Kept Animals Bill. This new Bill solely focuses on a ban on live export of large animals for fattening and slaughter. But the Bill has holes as they will still be allowed to be live exported for breeding. Animal Justice Project
Support Animal Welfare Political Parties
All the major political parties have MPs who are focused on animal welfare (and The Green Party has some good policies). Whereas in England, ‘fringe candidates’ are often not taken seriously, in The Netherlands, Party for the Animals has six MPs and many local councillors. This has led to national law changes, showing what a difference cane be made. The party even has its own PINK! youth movement. Can you imagine that here? A party for animal welfare in parliament, with youth leaders making changes to policy? Recent policy success include:
- A ban on the import of calves
- Restrictions on hunting wild animals
- Reduction to help stop duck farming
- No more agricultural toxins
- Requesting an animal welfare minister
Co-founder Marianne Thieme writes that when the party was first created, they were laughed at, with critics asking ‘what next – a party for bicycles?’ But the party has done great work, proving the old adage ‘first you laugh at them, then you ignore then, then you get angry – and then you join them!’
Animal Welfare Party is the UK political party, which also focuses on policies to help the environment. The manifesto includes redirecting subsidies from livestock and fisheries to plant-based agriculture (the transfarmation project is a good example, funding financially-struggling livestock farmers with the resources and training to join the profitable local oat-milk market, leaving animals to live out their lives in peace).
Other politics include promoting plant-based agriculture in schools and GP practices, ending live export and slaughter without stunning, introducing CCTV for all slaughterhouses, phasing out factory farming and animal experiments (in favour of humane research), strengthening laws for the pet trade and increasing penalties for those convicted of animal abuse. Even if you’re not into ‘joining things’ you can help by voting for local candidates in council elections, and buy an organic cotton t-shirt (made with green energy) to spread the word!
TheyWorkForYou is a fantastic open-source website (so anyone worldwide can use the software to create a similar site). Enter your postcode to find how your MP is and how he/she has voted on animal welfare policies. Other countries with thriving animal welfare political parties include:
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics, is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. Plato
World Federation for Animals
World Federation for Animals has an extensive library of policy suggestions, brought together by over 60 organisations embarking on a journey to ensure animal welfare is part of political, financial and business policy worldwide. From helping animals involved in the food and fashion industries to looking at biodiversity and environmental issues (to one policy paper ensuring another pandemic doesn’t happen again, widely thought to be due to animal exploitation), the organisation covers everything from endangered species to marine creatures. Chief Executive Officer Dr James Yeates was previously CEO of Cats Protection and the RSPCA’s Chief Veterinary Officer, and has advised UK MPs on animal welfare.
The Olsen Animal Trust is a wonderful organisation that supports many animal welfare projects both in England and abroad. Inspired by helping to rescue a French circus lion (who with another lioness rescued from a Romanian zoo spent their final years shown compassion at a wildlife sanctuary, this family charity is a great place to find authentic projects to support.
