Labour to force a vote to bring back Government’s own Animal Welfare Bill that they dropped last month

Labour will today (Wednesday 21^st June 2023) force a binding vote in the House Commons to re-introduce the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill) that the Government controversially dropped just a few weeks ago.

Labour will use an Opposition Day Motion on Wednesday to set aside Parliamentary time on 12^th July for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill 2) to pass all stages and finally become law.

The legislation would ban the live exports of farm animals, and also clamp down on puppy smugglers and the scourge of dog thefts. The previous version of the Bill passed Second Reading in the Commons unanimously on 25 October 2021, but the Government never scheduled any further stages for the Bill.

Ahead of the vote, Jim McMahon and Labour Parliamentary Candidates have written jointly to Conservative MPs warning them of the implications of breaking yet another promise made to voters.

Rishi Sunak’s Government have been widely condemned by animal welfare groups and even his own MPs for killing legislation which had been a key plank of the Conservative 2019 manifesto and the Prime Minister himself had promised during his leadership election to bring into law.

The Labour Party has a proud track record of delivering progress on animal welfare in Government, from ending the testing of cosmetic products on animals in 1998, to stopping the cruelty of fur farming in 2000, the introduction of the Hunting Act in 2004 and bringing in the landmark Animal Welfare Act in 2006.

Jim McMahon MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said:

“The Government’s decision last month to kill off the Kept Animals Bill is proof that you can’t trust the Tories to deliver on animal welfare.

“That’s why Labour is today bringing back this important piece of legislation which will end live exports of farm animals and target the criminals involved in puppy smuggling and dog thefts.

“Whilst the Tories might be split, Labour is proud to be the party of animal welfare. The last Labour Government delivered ground-breaking protections for animals, ending the use of animals in cosmetic testing, we ended the cruelty of fur farming and introduced the Animal Welfare Act and the Hunting Act.

“The Kept Animals Bill is hugely important for animal welfare but it’s also vital for delivering trust in politics. The Conservatives promised it in their 2019 manifesto and the Prime Minister personally committed to bringing it into law. Where the Tories fail to keep their promises, Labour will step in and deliver for the country.”

Ends

Letter to Conservative MPs

Dear Conservative MPs, 

We are writing to you regarding the Government’s decision to abandon the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.  

At the last General Election, you stood on an election platform which pledged to voters that you would deliver the policies set out in the Kept Animals Bill.

But despite introducing the Bill in 2021, the Government failed to progress it in the subsequent two years due to Conservative Party dither, delay and in-fighting over whether animals deserve greater protections. And on the 25^th May, Environment Minister Mark Spencer announced that the Kept Animals Bill was being scrapped.

Ditching this proposed law is not only a betrayal of voter trust, it blocks Parliament from scrutinising, improving and progressing provisions to protect animals, and it gives the green light to puppy smugglers, puppy farmers, pet thieves and live animal exports to continue.

This is not the first time that animal welfare provisions have been dropped by this Conservative government. The Bill that was promised to end imports of fur and foie gras was also scrapped due to fears of an internal Conservative Party backlash.

It’s yet another example of what the public have seen time and time again from the Conservatives. Big promises, but no delivery. These are promises that the Government made to voters and forms the platform on which Government MPs were elected.

The truth is that Britain is a nation of animal lovers who care about animal welfare. But it is clear that this is not met by the Government.

Which is why, in the absence of leadership from the Government on animal welfare, Labour is today bringing forward a binding motion that will revive the (Kept Animals) Bill and sets July 12^th as the date to progress through all stages of the Bill to turn it into law. 

Because Labour is the Party of animal welfare. The last Labour government has a proud record, from bringing forward the landmark Hunting Act to protecting the treatment of domestic animals under the Animal Welfare Act. We have always placed the welfare of animals high on the policy agenda. And Labour MPs made similar pledges to their constituents, but the difference is, our Party want to make good on those promises.

With Labour’s motion reintroducing the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill), MPs now have no excuses. Labour is presenting Conservative MPs with an opportunity to put country before Party by ensuring that animal welfare is a key priority.

There are two ways that Conservative MPs can do this:

• Voting for Labour’s Opposition Day Motion which revives the Kept Animals Bill and sets July 12^th as the date for its passage.
• Supporting the Bill and voting  for its progression through all its stages on July 12^th, to turn it into law. 

But to be absolutely clear, if the Government and Tory MPs seek to kill the Kept Animals Bill once again by either blocking the Opposition Day Motion, or the progress of the Bill, you will be voting to continue puppy smuggling, puppy farming, pet theft and live animal exports. 

Your constituents will be watching closely.

Yours sincerely, 

Jim McMahon

Notes

• Labour’s Draft Motion:

Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) (No. 2) Bill

That -

(1) On Wednesday 12 July 2023:

(a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order) shall not apply;

(b) any proceedings governed by this order may be proceeded with until any hour, though opposed, and shall not be interrupted;

(c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private);

(d) at 3.00 pm, the Speaker shall interrupt any business prior to the business governed by this order and, notwithstanding the practice of this House as regards to proceeding on a Bill without notice, call the Leader of the Opposition or another Member on his behalf to present the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) (No. 2) Bill of which notice of presentation has been given and immediately thereafter (notwithstanding any rule of practice of the House as regards a matter already decided this Session) call a Member to move the motion that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) (No. 2) Bill be now read a second time as if it were an order of the House;

(e) in respect of that Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.

(f) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this order may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption.

(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (18) of this order shall apply to and in connection with the proceedings on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) (No. 2) Bill in the present Session of Parliament.

Timetable for the Bill on Wednesday 12 July 2023

(3) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be taken at the sitting on Wednesday 12 July 2023 in accordance with this Order.

(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 5.00 pm.

(c) Proceedings on any money resolution which may be moved by a Minister of the Crown in relation to the Bill shall be taken without debate immediately after Second Reading.

(d) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 7.00 pm.