The Animal Welfare legacy of Sir David Amess
Many people (wrongly) assume that all Conservative MPs don’t care about animals. In fact, there is even a fringe party within the party to help pets to wildlife: Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation
One Conservative MP who was passionate about animal welfare was Sir David Amess, a devout Roman Catholic whose faith inspired him to vote with his conscience, rather than always to tow party lines.
Famously, Sir David also campaigned against trophy hunting, and wanted a ban on bodies and parts imported to the UK.
Since his death, Conservative MP Henry Smith and Labour MP John Spellar have both tried to pass the Bill, but both times the Bill has been ‘wrecked’ by members of the House of Lords debating it for too long, so it never passes. Then when the last General Election was called, the pending Bill dissolved, and it has not passed.
Since the murder of Cecil the lion by an American trophy hunter in 2015 (which caused worldwide uproar), British hunters have imported the bodies or parts of at least 99 lions to the UK. Nearly 80% of these ‘trophies’ are from captive-bred lions in South Africa.
Canned or ‘trophy hunting’ means the lions are released into small fenced-off enclosures so can’t escape. Then wealthy tourists pay from $15K to $50K to kill them and bring back their body parts. Something Sir David called a ‘wicked evil practice’.
If hunting is a sport, let the animal have a rifle as well. Hamza Yassin
What’s so tragic is that all three MPs murdered in the last years (of different political parties at their deaths) were all involved in campaigning for animal welfare: Sir David, Jo Cox and Ann Widdicombe.
Catholic Concern for Animals is our national charity, for people of the faith who wish to campaign for a better world for fellow creatures.
Following his tragic murder a few years ago (which also led to a change in the law, as the local priest was not allowed to get past the barriers to give him the last rites), Children’s Parliament was set up in his memory. Youngsters are being given a voice on issues that will affect them. And as the next generation, many of them are passionate about animal welfare, something that Sir David would no doubt be pleased about.
One of its present campaigns was to rescue 14 Gentoo penguins, stuck in a dingy basement at London zoo. They are now at least moving to better living conditions with fellow penguins, in part thanks to the Children’s Parliament.
Things Sir David Amess did to help animals:
If you thought that it was just the Greens or Animal Welfare Party that tried to change laws for animals, here is just a few things that Sir David Amess did while an MP:
- Introduced an Act to protect tethered horses.
- Defied his party to vote for a fox hunting ban. And encouraged fellow MPs to join Conservatives Against Fox Hunting.
- Campaigned for a ban on live exports from UK (now done!)
- Campaigned against badger culls, finding better ways to prevent bovine TB.
- Worked to end farrowing crates, hen cages, animal testing and puppy farms.
Sir David was the greatest friends of animals in the House of Commons. He could always be relied upon to support any cause. Compassion in World Farming
So as you can see, despite coming from a political party many of us would have thought was not the most animal-friendly, Sir David was a rule to himself!
So let’s encourage the Children’s Parliament to ensure his incredible legacy lives on, to help our fellow creatures – with support from all political parties working together.
