The United Kingdom is taking another step in the right direction as the Labour Party is proposing many great plans regarding animal welfare.
Labour will be reviewing animal testing, animal cruelty and foie gras among other things in their newly proposed policies. The party hopes it will gain them an advantage against the Conservatives, who have recently announced many animal-friendly policies, as well.
As part of their 50-point plan, Labour is considering taking measures to ban exporting animals for slaughter, and will make vets charge lower consultation fees to make checkups more affordable for pet owners.
The party is also considering proposals that will force all landlords to let their tenants keep their pets while renting properties. And that’s not all! Labour is also considering implementing stricter rules when it comes to fox hunting, and may even ban foie gras importation, even though foie gras production is already banned in the UK.
The plan is titled “Animal Welfare for the Many, Not the Few,” and many people are in favour of the proposals.
Similarly, Environment Secretary Michael Grove is also considering a ban on foie gras in order to compete with the Labour Party’s proposals. Last year, Grove also pledged to give more punishments to people who would treat animals cruelly because of the fact that animals “feel pain and suffering,” and is also proposing introducing compulsory CCTV into slaughterhouses. It’s the greatest battle fought in Britain’s history to see who can win the UK’s support with animal welfare proposals!
The Conservatives, however, have yet to prove themselves worthy since they abandoned their promise to ban ivory trading. On the other hand, Labour is proposing to appoint an Animal Welfare Commissioner to make sure the government is doing its part in helping animals earn their rights.
According to Shadow Environment Secretary, Sue Hayman: “Labour is the party of animal welfare. From bringing in the ban on fox hunting to tightening the rules on the transport of live animals, Labour has always been consistent in our leadership on matters of animal welfare.
“Today’s we’re making proposals for real, long-term progress. Our vision is one where no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and we continue to drive up standards and practice in line with the most recent advances and understanding.
“With new trade deals on the horizon and the UK no longer subject to EU-wide rules on animal welfare, we want to ensure there is a comprehensive legislation agenda in place so that the UK becomes a world leader on animal rights.”
Labour is also considering a few more plans, including putting a end to badger culling, banning third parties from selling puppies, and making it mandatory to put labels on meat that will state how the animals were raised and slaughtered. It’s also a great post-Brexit plan, especially since the UK is still heavily influenced by EU policies.
Labour’s plans are a reflection of a new age in the UK. Over half a million people in the UK follow the vegan diet and London is no doubt one of the top vegan cities in the world. Animal activists and organizations are also extremely pleased with Labour’s plans.
“If we want our children and grandchildren to live in a world where elephants still roam and the oceans have more fish than plastic, we need a political race to the top on the environment,” said Ben Stafford, Head of Campaigns at World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
It is certain that animal rights will be a big area the main parties will focus on in the next election.
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