Protecting animals and enhancing animal welfare means a great deal to me and I recognise the strength of feeling there is on this issue for my constituents and for my colleagues across the House. The UK is a world leader in animal welfare and I was pleased the last Conservative Government took proactive action such as introducing new laws to recognise animal sentience, introducing tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences and banning wild animals in travelling circuses.
My colleague, Dr Neil Hudson MP, shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister and co-sponsor of the Animal Welfare (Import of Cats, Dogs and Ferrets) Bill, spoke for us all at its Second Reading on 29th November 2024 when he said,
‘Animal welfare unites us in humanity….I can proudly say that His Majesty’s loyal Opposition strongly support this Bill in the interests of animal health and welfare.’
My colleagues and I take the welfare of all animals extremely seriously and were committed to strengthening and supporting long-term conservation of animals, internationally and at home while in Government. I was fortunate to be able to help deliver the world leading Ivory Act during my time as the Government Whip at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which enforced a near total ban on the import, export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory. So, I do appreciate the need for action around trophy hunting and can assure you I will continue to advocate for a ban on the importation of animal trophies into the UK.
In 2019, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held a consultation on the scale and impact of the import and export of hunting trophies. Over 44,000 responses to the call for evidence and consultation were received and 85 per cent of responses were in favour of further action. The response to the consultation set out the previous Government's intention to ban imports of hunting trophies from thousands of endangered and threatened species.
While, in the previous Parliamentary session before the general election, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill did not complete its passage, I am delighted that my colleague, David Reed MP, has re-introduced the Bill. The Bill seeks to ban the import of hunting trophies from around 6,000 species, including lions, elephants, rhinos and polar bears. The next stage for this Bill, its Second reading, is scheduled to take place on Friday 12 September 2025 - I hope the Government takes this issue seriously and acts on the measures it raises. The promise to ban the import of hunting trophies was in their manifesto, and I will be watching to see if Ministers stick to this promise.
As you may know, the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed, having received support from the previous Conservative Government. This allows this Labour Government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed. I hope that, ahead of implementing the measures from the legislation, the Government engages closely with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups.
The Association of British Travel Agents has published guidance and lists activities which have been classified as unacceptable. I would strongly encourage all holidaymakers to research activities before taking part and consider the potential impact on animals and wildlife. In addition, I would actively encourage tourists to report any animal welfare concerns to their UK tour operator or travel agent on return to the UK.
The last Conservative Government also took action to tackle the practice of puppy farming; following the introduction of Lucy’s Law in 2020, everyone must now buy directly from breeders or consider adopting from rescue centres, which is a major step in stopping the illegal pet trade. If an individual sells puppies or kittens without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.
We also delivered on a key manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs with the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which was introduced in Parliament in December 2023.
However, while the UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world which we can be proud of, it is right that we continue to improve those standards where it is needed. I support the strengthened penalties introduced by the previous Conservative Government, which send a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated and enable our courts to take a firmer approach to cases where pets are illegally imported.
The UK has one of the most rigorous pet travel border checking regimes in the world, and I am aware that every dog travelling into Great Britain on approved routes has its microchip and paperwork checked to ensure they are properly vaccinated and old enough to travel.
The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was first introduced as a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by former Conservative MP Selaine Saxby. Unfortunately, despite support from the last Government, the Bill did not complete its passage before the general election.
Still retaining its unanimous cross-party support, the Bill has been reintroduced in this parliamentary session and co-sponsored by Dr Neil Hudson MP, Shadow Defra Minister. The Bill includes the same provisions as the previous version of the Bill such as the measures to address the problem of low-welfare imports of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom. The Bill includes powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs and cats that are mutilated (which includes the cropping of a dog’s ears, the docking of a dog’s tail or the declawing of a cat), subject to limited exemptions.
My colleague, Sir Ashley Fox MP, reiterated at the Third Reading of the Bill on the 4th July 2025 that,
This is a good Bill. Its measures are well considered, backed by experts and charities and designed to implement positive change to protect our beloved pets. I am pleased to confirm on behalf of the Opposition that we support this Bill, and I sincerely hope it will gain the support it deserves from the whole of the House.
I can assure all my constituents; I am supporting it fully as it makes its way through the House.
The link to the Hansard transcript of the full debate at the Third Reading of the Bill on the 4th July 2025 can be accessed here:
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
