London, 17th July 2024
Today (Wednesday 17th July ), the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) is disappointed at the absence of any animal welfare measures in the King’s Speech delivered by HM King Charles III to mark the opening of Parliament today. The speech contained a comprehensive overview of the Government’s priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary Session but lacked any measures to advance animal welfare.
Farm animals are 95% of UK animals directly affected by humans, they must be at the forefront of government thinking on animal welfare. Approximately 85 % of all animals farmed in the UK are farmed by industrial meat producers (factory farms).
The previous government made positive strides with an ambitious agenda to improve farm animal welfare and this change and work must continue.
Much work has been undertaken by Defra officials on the introduction of an animal welfare labelling scheme. Animal welfare labelling is the most powerful driver to advance farm animal welfare in the same way we saw mandatory labelling with eggs allowing consumers to make informed choices about cage-free eggs. We want to see the new Government lead on issues such as ending farrowing crates, ending cages for laying hens and improving the conditions of farmed fish by at the minimum giving them the same protections that terrestrial animals have.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “We were disappointed in the lack of farm animal welfare measures in the King’s speech. The country looks to Government to lead on issues that are important to the public and animal welfare is one such issue. We must end the cruel practices of caging egg-laying birds and confining sows in farrowing crates. However, we will continue to work with and encourage the government to help advance farmed animal welfare in the UK.”
About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and people’s health. We want to highlight the actions people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
Media contact: Jenny Lewis (Jenny.lewis@conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org)
