Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns has launched a petition calling on Rishi Sunak to reverse the decision to scrap a flagship animal welfare bill introduced under Boris Johnson.
The proposed law contained Conservative 2019 manifesto commitments including a crackdown on puppy smuggling and to ban live animal exports.
However, last month Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the decision to pull the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill from the Parliamentary agenda.
CLICK HERE: SIGN THE PETITION to reinstate the Animal Welfare Bill.
With only five hours of Parliamentary time left until its passage into law, Ms Jenkyns joined many animal lovers – in homes across our country – in asking the question why?
The decision to drop the Bill seemed to fly in the face of the leaps and bounds made during Boris Johnson’s administration and marks an unwelcome policy shift for animal activists, campaigners, and animal lovers alike.
From improving animal welfare standards, tackling the keeping of zoo animals at home, banning puppy smuggling, and putting proactive steps in place to limit the abhorrent practice of ear cropping, the bill seemed popular with the electorate. The Conservative MP states:
“This Bill was progress in action, the product of years of debate, dialogue, and discussion.
“As a proud nation of animal lovers, this decision contradicts a common value held by many and distances Government from a key 2019 manifesto commitment.
“More than this, it sends a message to nations around the world, many of whom we have encouraged to improve their animal welfare credentials, that Britain has turned its back on our four-legged friends. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Conservative MP continues: “As a vegetarian of over 20 years, a loving pet owner, and a lifelong animal advocate, I’ve spent much of my life fighting to widen the protection of animals.
‘I’ve been an outspoken advocate for animal welfare in Parliament and launched my Animals Matter campaign to draw attention to animal welfare concerns – at home and around the world – from the cat and dog meat trade in South-East Asia to trophy hunting bans in Botswana.
‘A few days ago I launched a public petition, which has already received support from animal lovers and famous faces, from TV vet Marc Abraham, actor Peter Egan, and TV presenter Rachel Riley, in the hopes that the strength of public feeling in this area, the passion that’s shared by every animal lover, will convince Government of the need to bring back the bill; after all animals matter!”
Andrea is calling on members of the public to sign the petition to reinstate the Animal Welfare Bill. If the petition gets to 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
This flagship bill should proceed