What is the animal welfare bill? Labour plans voted down

Labour’s plan to bring back the Government’s ditched flagship animal welfare legislation has been voted down by MPs.

It was thought that some Tory members would back the opposition’s effort to enact the Kept Animals Bill — a 2019 Tory manifesto pledge — which has been dropped. The bill aimed to crack down on dog thefts and ban the live exports of farm animals.

But it was voted down on Wednesday night by 256 votes to 183, a majority of 73, meaning that it is now back to the drawing board for the bill’s proponents.

Top Tories including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Dame Andrea Jenkyns expressed their disappointment that the bill has been dropped.

"We shouldn't really, I think, have found ourselves in a situation where this bill had to be dumped,” Sir Iain said. “And we have to start all over again."

DEFRA has been approached by the Evening Standard for comment.

What is the animal welfare bill?

The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would have looked at addressing several significant animal health and welfare issues that are not covered by the law at present.

Under the bill, issues such as puppy smuggling, dog thefts, prohibiting the import of dogs with cropped ears, and a review of zoo standards across the UK would all have been addressed.

Why is it important?

There are currently no laws to protect animals to the level these powers would. Under the bill, five areas were set to be looked at specifically.

The Government would have had new powers to tackle the unethical trade of puppy smuggling by reducing the number of pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) that can travel under pet travel rules. It would also make stealing a pet illegal. At the moment, your pet is considered an item of property.

It would also put bans on exporting live animals for slaughter, and will become the first European country to end the practice, seen as unnecessary cruelty.

Primates will also be banned from being kept as pets and more protection will be given to farmed animals, with police given extra powers to combat dangerous and out-of-control dogs.

What has been the delay?

The Kept Animals Bill was first introduced in the House of Commons on June 2, 2021, and carried over into the 2021-22 Parliamentary session, with its remaining stages scheduled for September 19, 2022.

The date was cancelled after the death of the Queen.

In May 2023, the Government announced that it was dropping the Bill.

Who else supports the animal welfare bill?

As well as Battersea, a whole host of animal-rights campaigners support the introduction of the Bill. The Dogs Trust and the RSPCA have encouraged the move, while one of the loudest supporters, the British Veterinary Association, labelled it as a “golden opportunity to improve the health and welfare of billions of animals”.

A spokesman said: “We are urging the Government not to let this important piece of legislation slip through the net.”

What animals are covered by the welfare bill?

The new Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will improve welfare standards for a wide range of animals. It will help pets, farmed animals, and kept wild animals.