Andy Drozdziak
Catholic animal campaigners are ‘delighted and relieved’ after the announcement in the King’s Speech that a ‘brutal practice’ will be permanently banned.
If the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill passes, it will prevent animals being sent to the continent for slaughter and fattening from England.
It will ban the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses in a move welcomed by Catholic lawyer Duncan McNair, CEO of Save The Asian Elephants, along with celebrity campaigners such as actress Dame Joanna Lumley.
“Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) is delighted and relieved to note from the King’s Speech that government has now pledged to implement legislation to ban permanently the live export of livestock for fattening and slaughter,” Mr McNair told the Universe.
“The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will, when enacted, consign to history this brutal practice that has caused inestimable stress, pain and horror to untold millions of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.”
The Government’s previous attempt to impose a ban as part of wider animal welfare reforms was scrapped earlier this year, but the new law will be more tightly focused on exports.
Dame Joanna Lumley said: “Exporting live animals is utterly unnecessary. They suffer enormous stress, exhaustion, dehydration and overcrowding.
“We have seen a series of broken promises from Government on this subject over the years, so this is very welcome news.”
Duncan McNair was the driving force behind the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, which became law earlier this year. Supported by the Bishops’ Conference, and celebrities such as Joanna Lumley and Chris Packham, the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill will help protect endangered and vulnerable species across the world from exploitation, harm and death in tourism. Mr McNair hopes that the new law will, similarly, help bring ‘dignity’ to animals.
“Following in the wake of STAE’s landmark Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, this measure can stand as another step towards restoring some dignity to other animal species, our brothers and sisters in nature,” he said.
“But so much more has to be done as had been promised.”
While animal welfare groups welcomed the proposed ban on live exports, there were concerns at the absence of measures to outlaw the importation of hunting trophies in the King’s Speech-a Tory manifesto promise from 2019.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane Society International/UK, said: “British trophy hunters travel around the world killing animals for fun –including endangered species like polar bears and leopards – and ship their souvenirs home to the UK, and over 80% of the British public believe this should stop. Today the Government has turned its back on them.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are committed to the manifesto pledge.” However, he added: “We’re not setting that out at this point.”
- Duncan McNair will be speaking on the new legislation at the Olympia National Vegfest in London at 1pm on Sunday 19th November.