Animal Welfare

The Hunting Ban of 2004 outlawed the cruel and barbaric ‘sport’ of hunting with hounds, and the terrible suffering that it brings to foxes, deer, hares and other hunted animals.

I am a member of the Soil Association and have recently had an email from them asking me to sign a petition that is requesting the Government to ban neonicotinoid pesticides.

Last week I was one of a group of MPs that handed in a petition of 1.5m signatures to the Prime Minister. The petition was to seek to reduce the number of animals used in animal experimentation. As such it was part of the 'Uncaged' campaign which has been running for some years.

When descriptions such as 'outrageous, disgusting and outrageous' are used you cannot but be struck by the enormity of the depravity being portrayed. Such were the words used recently by the RSPCA about the dramatic increase in the amount of animal cruelty they had encountered over the last year or so.

The government has got itself in a real bind over the issue of animal experimentation or vivisection. In opposition the Labour Party marketed itself as the pro-animal party producing an expansive mini-manifesto, entitled 'New Labour, New Life for Animals' and took over a £1m from PAL one of the main campaigning animal charities.