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Opposition Half Day - 18th Allotted Day, First PartOpposition Half Day
21 June 2023
Lead MP
Neil Hudson
Epping Forest
Con
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 58
At a Glance
Neil Hudson raised concerns about opposition half day - 18th allotted day, first partopposition half day in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Raised a point of order expressing concern about debating an animal welfare bill without details, questioning the implications for animal health and welfare.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Responded to the point of order, clarifying that the motion seeks control over the Order Paper on 12 July for an unspecified Bill related to animal welfare. Stated that debate can proceed without knowing the Bill's text.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Thanked Jim McMahon for outlining Labour's successes in animal welfare and commended him for reintroducing the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. Suggested that if Government MPs vote against the motion, they will be voting to continue practices such as puppy smuggling, pet theft, and live animal exports.
Battersea
Agreed with Janet Daby's point. Emphasised that despite multiple reassurances from the Government, they have now made a U-turn by shelving the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which is undermining the work of organisations like Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in her constituency. Called for provisions to prevent puppy smuggling and make dog abductions an offence.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Defended the orderliness of the debate despite interventions from other Members raising concerns about Labour's stance on animal welfare, and the Government’s track record on delivering on their promises regarding animal welfare laws.
Critiqued Labour for attempting to reverse the Brexit referendum result, suggesting that such actions would have prevented improvements in live export bans and tackling illegal puppy imports.
Asked Roger Gale if he could respond to earlier points of order regarding the format and content of the debate without a formal Bill being proposed, questioning the relevance of the motion.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Highlighted the benefits of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 in ensuring that governments consider animal welfare and cited the creation of the Animal Sentience Committee as a positive step forward.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Asked Roger Gale for an intervention, though no specific position was given in the provided text.
Defended the Government's actions on animal welfare, emphasising the commitment to banning live exports and clamping down on puppy smuggling through private Members’ Bills. Criticised political opposition as irresponsible game-playing.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Pointed out that while the Government made a commitment to improve animal welfare laws, they have backtracked on several issues such as fur imports and foie gras imports. Questioned if this motion was another step in contradictory policy-making.
Asked Roger Gale about the Dogs Trust caring for 485 smuggled puppies since Second Reading, urging support for the motion to end puppy smuggling.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Asked Roger Gale for an intervention, though no specific position was given in the provided text.
Erith and Thamesmead
Acknowledged Roger Gale’s leadership on animal welfare issues despite the Government's perceived failure. Criticised the current administration for U-turning on their commitments, suggesting Britain's reputation as a nation of animal lovers is at stake.
Clarified that she had not been threatened by Whips regarding the support for the Bill and suggested that it was baseless to claim otherwise.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Argued that if Opposition parties truly wanted to pressure the Government, they should have tabled a simple motion of support for the Bill rather than attempting to seize control of the business. Emphasised the importance of genuine cooperation for better animal welfare policies.
Trudy Harrison
Con
Copeland
The Minister outlined the Government's extensive track record on animal welfare, including the publication of an ambitious action plan in 2021. She mentioned achievements like increased penalties for cruelty and the extension of the Ivory Act to cover more endangered species.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
The MP questioned why the Government had dropped the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill despite cross-party support, expressing concern about delays affecting animal welfare.
Asked the Minister to clarify why animal testing was banned across the UK when it remained lawful in both the UK and EU, highlighting a higher bar for animal welfare standards in testing.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Inquired about the reasons behind the Government's delay in implementing policies from the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill despite manifesto commitments, expressing constituent concerns over the matter.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Asked why the Minister was suggesting reliance on private Members' Bills when there is cross-party support for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill as a Government initiative, seeking clarity on legislative intentions.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Agreed with measures proposed to address illegal animal smuggling and exports, expressing confidence that such legislation would effectively combat these issues.
Reassured Opposition Members about the efficiency of private Member’s Bills in advancing legislative progress on issues like pet theft. Highlighted successful implementation of a glue trap ban through this route.
Patricia Gibson
SNP
North Ayrshire and Arran
The SNP supports the motion due to public concern over animal welfare issues such as banning foie gras imports, fur imports, and illegal pet smuggling. The Government's lack of resolve to proceed with these measures is seen as a capitulation to certain Back Benchers who oppose them, undermining their manifesto commitments. Despite promising comprehensive reforms, the Bill has been shelved without any clear timetable or priority list for individual measures.
Pontypridd
Concerned about the fate of private Member's Bills that are crucial to animal welfare, such as the trophy hunting imports Bill. The lack of progress on these issues undermines public faith in democracy and highlights the Government's inability to deliver legislative commitments.
The continuous twists and turns regarding the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill undermine constituents' trust in democratic processes. Despite broad support for the bill, its shelving is seen as a result of internal Government politics rather than genuine concerns about animal welfare.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
The debate reflects more on political manoeuvring within the Government than it does on actual policy progress for animal welfare. The broad support for the bill across the House suggests a disconnect between public sentiment and current legislative action.
Claire Hanna
SDLP
Belfast South and Mid Down
The debate provides an opportunity to introduce progressive legislation that could address the lack of animal welfare laws in regions like Northern Ireland. The bill's shelving is seen as a missed chance to advance animal rights across all parts of the UK.
Henry Smith
Con
Crawley
Paid tribute to the Government for supporting his private Member’s Bill, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill. He requested an assurance from the Government that time will be provided if there are wrecking amendments in the other place. He also mentioned several animal protection measures achieved by the Government and expressed disappointment over the withdrawal of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.
Virendra Sharma
Lab
Ealing, Southall
Expressed opposition to the shelving of key legislation for the wellbeing of kept animals. He criticised the Government for inaction on various animal welfare issues and highlighted the importance of banning fur imports and exports. He also emphasised the need to address the commercial exploitation of Asian elephants through unethical tourism.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Focused on the problem of having to dump the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill due to unnecessary amendments. He asked for a timeframe required for unpacking the Bill and for single-issue Bills to progress with speed. He also questioned whether all parts of the Bill will be retained and expressed disappointment over the lack of urgency in addressing pet theft.
Gill Furniss
Lab
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
The hon. Member Gill Furniss expresses her support for reviving the Animal Welfare Bill, noting that it was welcomed when introduced but has been dropped without clear reasons or timetables from the government. She highlights the public's 80% agreement on protecting animal welfare through legislation and criticises the current government's lack of action.
Craig Mackinlay
Con
South Thanet
The hon. Member Craig Mackinlay acknowledges the importance of animal welfare measures but disagrees with Labour’s stance, arguing that the previous Bill had become too cumbersome and was rightly stopped. He details his efforts to ban live animal exports from Ramsgate port through various means, including private member's bills, and calls for legislative action to stop this trade.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
The speaker criticises the delay in passing the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, stating it is due to fear of unhelpful amendments from Back Benchers rather than a lack of time. He also points out that this weakness has been seen before with the Australia and New Zealand trade deals where political considerations were prioritised over animal welfare.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
In an intervention, Layla Moran highlights that nearly 200 constituents have written to her about the Bill's delay. She expresses doubt that private Members' Bills will be able to carry forward the provisions before the next general election.
Supports animal welfare but criticises the Opposition for attempting to spin the issue. He argues that since leaving the EU, Britain has been able to strengthen its laws on animal protection and is ranked highest in G7 countries on the Animal Protection Index. The Government has delivered on their commitments including the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act and cat microchipping.
Samantha Dixon
Lab
Chester North and Neston
My constituents care deeply about animal welfare, and the scrapping of the Bill is astonishing. It causes uncertainty for zoos like Chester zoo, affecting their ability to allocate funds. The belief in protecting animals should be a matter of principle.
I pay tribute to animal welfare campaigners and introduce Brian Wheelhouse who dedicated his life to rescuing animals. I am disappointed the Bill was dropped despite Conservative pledges in 2019. The petition for its return has over 11,000 signatures. The Bill would ban live exports, protect zoo animals, tackle puppy smuggling, and end ear cropping. It addresses pet theft and limits exploitative dog breeders. I ask the Government: do animals matter?
Ashley Dalton
Lab
West Lancashire
The Bill's withdrawal is disappointing as it was a manifesto pledge to protect animals. Public demand for pets soared during lockdowns, leading to opportunities for puppy smuggling and criminal activities. The Government has no confidence in taking decisions and runs scared of the Opposition. There is enough parliamentary time but the legislative agenda is sparse. I call on Members to support Labour's motion to bring the Bill to its conclusion.
Selaine Saxby
Con
Totnes
Saxby expressed disappointment over the lack of progress with animal welfare legislation but agreed with the decision to expedite individual components. She thanked the ministerial team for their engagement and highlighted the consensus on delivering these measures while criticising Labour's approach as playing politics.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Mishra criticised the government for scrapping the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill despite promising 'the world’s strongest protections' on kept animals and livestock. He highlighted the impact of the bill's removal on zoos, which felt let down by a lack of engagement from Government Ministers.
Wiggin praised the government's record on animal welfare and pledged to bring forward private members' bills if successful in addressing sheep worrying. He emphasised the need for specific measures rather than broad-brush legislation, citing examples such as dog attacks on farm animals and the impact of bans on electric collars.
Cat Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Ms Smith argued that the delay in passing the Animal Welfare Bill undermines public trust. She cited numerous animal welfare issues from constituents, including concerns about hunting practices and support for tightening regulations on fox hunting. Ms Smith also mentioned local initiatives such as pet food banks responding to economic hardship.
Mr Gibson highlighted the Conservative government's extensive record on animal welfare legislation since 2010, including measures like Finn’s law and Lucy’s law. He defended the government against accusations of indifference towards animal rights, suggesting that Labour was responsible for inaction during their time in power.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Ms Champion criticised the decision to drop the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill and called on the Minister to provide a detailed timetable for future animal welfare legislation. She emphasised the role of good zoos in conservation efforts and stressed the need for strong zoo licensing measures.
Theresa Villiers
Con
Villiers expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Opposition's motion, considering it a political ploy. She emphasised her personal commitment to ending live animal exports for slaughter and urged the Government to swiftly introduce legislation to ban this practice, alongside measures against illegal puppy imports.
Steven Bonnar
SNP
Glasgow North East
Bonnar supported the Opposition motion and highlighted Scotland's long-standing efforts in animal welfare. He criticised the UK Government for failing to progress on several key issues like banning foie gras, fur imports, and illegal puppy/kitten smuggling. Bonnar urged the Government to reintroduce the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill to prevent further regulatory backsliding.
Louie French
Con
Old Bexley and Sidcup
French emphasised his commitment to animal welfare, praising recent government achievements such as mandatory pet microchipping, Finn's Law for service animals, Lucy's Law against third-party puppy sales, and bans on using wild animals in circuses. He welcomed the Government’s intent to tackle illegal puppy smuggling more quickly but criticised Labour for tabling a motion without clear policies.
Pontypridd
Davies-Jones highlighted the abandonment of crucial Bills such as the Animals Abroad Bill, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, and criticised the delay in implementing the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill. She emphasised that animal welfare is a devolved issue but Westminster remains responsible for importation and exportation.
Firth defended the Conservative Government's record on animal welfare, mentioning new regulations for meat chickens, mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, microchipping of dogs, protection for service animals via Finn’s law, banning commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens through Lucy’s law, and introducing the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. She also criticised Labour's approach to animal welfare legislation.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion Preseli
Lake focused on the issue of dog attacks on livestock, highlighting the importance of addressing this through legislative measures and criticising the abandonment of relevant provisions in the kept animals Bill. He urged for greater investigatory powers to bring more instances of dog attacks to prosecution.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
The Conservative Government has prioritised animal welfare since 2010, enshrining sentient beings into law with the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 and launching the new Animal Sentience Committee. Tougher sentences for animal cruelty have been introduced, making cat microchipping compulsory to help reunite lost pets with their owners. Additional endangered species were covered under the Ivory Act, welfare at slaughter regimes have been revised, traditional battery cages banned for laying hens, third-party puppy and kitten sales prohibited via Lucy’s Law, fly-grazing and abandonment offences implemented, and wild animals in travelling circuses banned.
Andrew Western
Lab
Stretford and Urmston
The delay on the kept animals Bill has caused significant harm to animal welfare, with 485 smuggled puppies and 101 heavily pregnant dogs cared for by Dogs Trust in two years. The Government's decision to scrap the bill allows this cruelty to continue. While private Members’ Bills are a lottery, the Government’s majority provides an opportunity to deliver on their manifesto promise of bringing in strong protections for pets, livestock, and kept animals. Labour calls for assurances from the Minister regarding the timing and prioritisation of these measures.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
The motion aims to resurrect the Kept Animals Bill, originally introduced by the Government but abandoned due to internal party politics. It seeks to address animal welfare issues through legislation that has already been scrutinised in Committee. The Labour party is emphasising their commitment to animal welfare and criticising the Conservative government for failing to deliver on promises made in their manifesto four years ago.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley
Asks why Labour has not presented new policy ideas during the debate, despite agreeing with the aspirations of the Kept Animals Bill. Highlights that the original legislation was supported by both parties and questions why there is reluctance to vote for it now.
Emphasises the Government's support for private Members' Bills when they align with their legislative goals, citing personal experience where his own Bill received significant support from a government minister.
Therese Coffey
Con
Tunbridge Wells
Defended the government's commitment to animal welfare, clarified that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was not in their manifesto. Emphasised the importance of private Members' Bills and the role of competent officials from her department in supporting such legislation. Criticised opposition for deriding manifesto commitments and accused them of lack of trust regarding the proposed bill. Rejected claims by the Opposition that voting against the motion would perpetuate puppy smuggling, pet theft, live animal exports and other illegal activities, calling it a misleading publicity stunt.
Alan Campbell
Lab
Tynemouth
Claimed to move the closure under Standing Order No. 36, setting up for a vote on the motion without providing additional details or arguments.
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