We live in a time of major international uncertainty and domestic challenges. It may come as a surprise then that for me, like many MPs, one of the most common issues raised in my postbag or more accurately inbox, is animal welfare.
Perhaps not so surprising when you consider we are in the main a nation of animal lovers, animal welfare uniting rural and urban voters who overwhelmingly support higher welfare standards. That has been my experience over a number of years, but a frustrating lack of progress underlines the powerlessness of opposition.
It was great therefore to see the Government launch our Animal Welfare Strategy which sets out to right many of the wrongs. The strategy includes a five year plan to improve protections for animals at home, on farms and in the wild. There have been some improvements in recent times driven mainly by consumer power. Some businesses have responded because it is in their economic interest to do so. But Government action is necessary to avoid slipping back, as not every political party shares our ambition.
The plan includes doing more to tackle the persistent problem of puppy breeding, a consultation on banning cages for hens and ending pig farrowing crates. We are committed to a ban on trail hunting and on the use of snares. We propose a closed season for hares and we’ve already announced plans to phase out animal testing. These have been talked about for years and we even risk falling behind standards in the EU, so now is the time for action.