I share the desire for high animal welfare standards and I’m proud that to date this has been borne out in our policymaking. The last Conservative Government took proactive action to improve animal welfare, such as introducing new laws to recognise animal sentience, introducing tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences and banning wild animals in travelling circuses. These steps helped place the UK as a world leader in animal welfare standards, a record we can all be proud of.
Some constituents have raised concerns that the UK's membership of the CPTPP might harm the great progress we have made. I would like to reassure them that trade negotiations have ensured our CPTPP membership is consistent with the UK’s existing approach to quality controls and does not compromise on food quality or animal welfare standards. We were mindful of the progress the last Conservative government made and ensured the agreement we came to includes comprehensive chapters for environmental protections.
A similar approach was taken with the UK-Australia trade deal includes a dedicated chapter on animal welfare – a first for an Australian FTA – and a non-regression clause on animal welfare, by which both countries have committed to not lower animal welfare standards to undercut the other.
Once again the UK-New Zealand deal also features a dedicated chapter on animal welfare, which ensures that neither country lowers their animal welfare requirements in a manner which impacts trade, as well as an ambitious environment chapter, to encourage mutually supportive trade and environment policies.
UK farmers do fantastic work and the previous Conservative Government made a great effort to support the farming industry, ensuring they would not be undercut, when negotiating these trade deals. This is a far cry from Labour’s recent treatment of our farmers who, through their Family Farm Tax policy, are placing the sector at extreme risk. By threatening the survival of British farms through this policy, I worry Labour are endangering the great progress we have made on animal welfare standards. British farmers have led the way in animal welfare focussed farming. Labour reversing course and admitting their mistake instead of doggedly pursuing it to save face, will be the quickest way to ensure high animal welfare standards are maintained in Britain.
If you want to sign the petition against the family farm tax you can do so here: https://www.whatlaboursaid.com/stop-the-family-farm-tax
Kieran.