Brexit could make life better for British PETS, top Tories tell Theresa May
INFLUENTIAL Tories are calling on Theresa May to use hard Brexit to make lives better for the nation’s pets, livestock and wildlife.
Theresa May vows to 'take back control of our laws'
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation has provided Number Ten with a blueprint on how to balance Britain’s departure from the EU with better standards for millions of domestic and wild creatures.
As the Prime Minister was making her landmark speech on Brexit today, leading MPs and party figures were advising on what departing from the EU will mean for farm animals and pets – and the opportunities it creates to introduce even higher welfare standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation says around 80 per cent of UK animal welfare laws, across 40 separate statutes, originate from Brussels, covering farm livestock, pets, wildlife and research animals.
Tories are calling on Theresa May to use hard Brexit to make lives better for the nation’s pets
A total of 18 relevant laws adopted from EU legislation refer to farm animals alone.
It is a priority that there is not a reduction in animal welfare standards
There are hopes that rather than watering down existing legislation, Brexit will allow for new laws to be introduced providing even greater safeguards and welfare standards.
Sir Roger Gale, Tory MP for North Thanet and patron of the CAWF, said: “It is a priority that there is not a reduction in animal welfare standards at the expense of a drive for new profitable economic trade deals.
“The CAWF recognises the inevitable questions: what will Brexit mean for animal welfare and the importance of ensuring that laws protecting animals remain as tough, if not tougher, once the UK leaves the EU.
CAWF say 80 per cent of UK animal welfare laws originate from Brussels
Sir Roger Gale, Tory MP for North Thanet and patron of the CAWF
“Animal welfare is an increasing concern among the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.”
Tory MPs supporting the better deal for animals have written to the prime minister to consider diverting money from the Common Agriculture Policy subsidy system to reward those farmers who adopt higher animal welfare standards.
Among the measures the CAWF are calling for post-Brexit are a move away from intensive farming to free range, halting the zero-grazing of dairy cows, phasing out enriched cages for laying hens and free-farrowing for pigs.
Lorraine Platt, co-founder CAWF
MPs say there is also support for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses and there should be a ban live exports.
Lorraine Platt, co-founder CAWF, added: “We have the power to lead our own farming policies to advance farm animal welfare, implement higher standards than those under the EU laws, protect the environment and promote healthier public diets to combat heart disease, diabetes and obesity.”