Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has welcomed the launch of Labour’s new 50-point Animal Welfare Manifesto.
The manifesto contains 50 policies to modernise the UK’s animal welfare laws, including:
- Introducing of a new independent Animal Welfare Commissioner
- Enshrining the principle of animal sentience in law
- Ending the badger cull
- Banning all fur imports
- Banning the sale and use of snares and glue traps
- Banning the import of wild animal trophies
This follows a consultation that the party conducted, which received over 6,000 consultation responses from industry, animal welfare organisations and individuals.
The proposals have been endorsed by a number of animal welfare and conservation organisations including the League Against Cruel Sports, Compassion in World Farming, WWF, Animal Aid and IFAW.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“As an animal lover, I’m delighted to see so many excellent policies in this manifesto – many are on issues that I feel passionately about and have campaigned on.
“This manifesto sets out an ambitious vision for excellence in farm animal welfare with a plan to end out-dated practices that severely restrict natural animal behaviour.
“Labour’s vision is one where no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and degradation and where we continue to drive up standards and practice in line with the most recent advances and understanding.”
Sue Hayman MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said:
“Labour is the party of animal welfare. From bringing in the ban on fox hunting to tightening the rules on the transport of live animals, Labour has always been consistent in our leadership on matters of animal welfare.
“Today we have laid out our proposals for real, long-term progress. Our vision is one where no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and we continue to drive up standards and practice in line with the most recent advances and understanding.
“Our Animal Welfare Manifesto introduces an inclusive approach, for the many, not the few, with proposals including widening access and affordability of veterinary care, new rights for tenants and their pets and the ability of those in care homes to be able to keep their pets.
“With new trade deals on the horizon and the UK no longer subject to EU-wide rules on animal welfare, we want to ensure there is a comprehensive legislative agenda in place so that the UK becomes a world leader on animal rights.”