Animals Matter – Biodiversity, Environmental Restoration, Animal Cruelty & Horse Smuggling

 

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I are committed to ensuring the interests of animals are represented in Parliament. One in seven species in the UK are at risk of extinction – this is not only a biodiversity loss but also a direct indication of the need for stronger protection of our environment.   

We are committed to environmental restoration. Our Nature Act would set legally binding targets for the restoration of ecosystems, including the protection of animal habitats. This includes investing at least £18 billion over five years to improve our water, air, soil, and biodiversity. We are also committed to large-scale restoration projects for peatlands, woodlands, wetlands, and coastal waters, all of which play a vital role in protecting animal habitats, absorbing carbon, and improving water quality.  

We also believe in our ethical obligation as humans to protect our animals who, like us, are capable of experiencing suffering and pain. We have consistently advocated for stronger animal cruelty penalties, improved standards of animal welfare in agriculture, and an all-out ban on caged hens. The transposition of the principle of animal sentience into British law is a crucial step in maintaining the UK’s high welfare standards as we move forward outside of the EU.  

Regarding horse smuggling, this is a practice that causes immense suffering to animals and must be stopped. I support calls for stronger legislation and am proud of our track record in pushing the Government to take action. It was disappointing that the previous Conservative government failed to pass the Kept Animals Bill, breaking their promise to the public. However, we are prepared to work across the aisle to address this and other forms of animal cruelty.