Labour promised the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation. Now we need to make sure that promise is delivered.
Please write to your local Labour MP today and ask them to raise animal welfare with Andy Burnham and his team.
Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy must be reaffirmed, implemented in full, and backed with the legislation needed to turn its commitments into real change for animals.
What we are asking MPs to do
Please ask your Labour MP to urge any future Burnham government to:
- publicly reaffirm Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy at an early opportunity and commit to implementing it in full and at pace;
- bring forward further consultations quickly, including on ending farrowing crates, banning the CO₂ gassing of pigs, and increasing protections for wild animals;
- ensure parliamentary time for the legislation needed to deliver key reforms;
- continue to implement the government’s strategy to replace the use of animals in science by supporting the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods;
- commit to ending the import of fur products; and
- maintain strong animal welfare leadership within Defra.
Previous Labour governments delivered historic reforms for animals, including the Animal Welfare Act, the ban on fur farming, the ban on cosmetics testing on animals, and the Hunting Act.
Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy is Labour’s chance to build on that legacy. Important progress has already begun, including consultations on ending cages for laying hens, improving lamb welfare, and banning trail hunting. These reforms now need to be delivered through legislation.
Please write to your MP today.
Find your MP’s contact details here.
If your MP is not Labour, try to find one local to you here.
Template letter to your Labour MP
Subject: Please raise animal welfare with Andy Burnham and his team
Dear [MP name],
I am writing as a constituent to ask you to raise animal welfare with Andy Burnham and his team.
As Labour prepares for a change of leadership, I am asking for your help to ensure that Defra’s landmark Animal Welfare Strategy continues to be implemented at pace and in full, so that Labour delivers on its electoral promise to give the “biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation”.
Previous Labour governments delivered historic reforms welcomed by voters nationwide: passing the Animal Welfare Act, banning fur farming and cosmetics testing on animals, and passing the Hunting Act.
Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy is the main vehicle for Labour to build on this legacy. The Strategy includes vital commitments to improve the lives of animals in homes, on farms and in the wild: from ending cages for hens and phasing out farrowing crates for pigs, to tackling puppy farming, banning trail hunting, ending the use of snares, and strengthening farmed animal welfare standards.
Important progress has already begun, including consultations on ending cages for laying hens, improving lamb welfare, and banning trail hunting. These reforms now need to be implemented via legislation.
I would therefore be grateful if you could ask that any future Burnham government:
- publicly reaffirms Defra’s Animal Welfare Strategy at an early opportunity and commits to implementing the Strategy in full and at pace;
- brings forward further consultations quickly, including on ending farrowing crates, banning the CO₂ gassing of pigs, and increasing protections for wild animals, and ensures parliamentary time for the legislation needed to deliver key reforms;
- continues to implement the government’s strategy to replace the use of animals in science by supporting the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods;
- commits to ending the import of fur products; and
- maintains strong animal welfare leadership within Defra.
Animal welfare is one of the most widely supported causes in British public life, and voters expect Labour to deliver on its animal welfare promises.
I would be grateful if you could raise this with Andy Burnham and his team as soon as possible, and let me know what response you receive.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address / postcode]
