Backlash over EU withdrawal vote
Thousands have signed a petition urging the Tories to reverse a decision which ignores the fact animals feel pain and emotion.
MPs rejected a clause this week that would have enshrined into UK law the recognition that animals are sentient, an admission currently covered by EU law.
Green MP Caroline Lucas submitted the clause as part of the EU withdrawal bill but it was rejected narrowly with 313 votes against and 295 in favour.
Some 80% of animal welfare legislation currently comes from the EU but after March 2019 European law will no longer apply in the UK.
Now a petition on campaigning website 38 Degrees has attracted 23,500 signatures of a 25,000 target demanding a reversal of the decision.
It states: “Animals have long held the status of being sentient beings in the UK, through legislation created in the EU.
“This means they are recognised as being capable of feeling emotions such as joy and compassion, but also fear, suffering and terror.
“The vote in parliament, narrowly won by the government, removes this status from all animals in the UK, and is a massive blow for the welfare of wildlife, pets and livestock alike.”
One signatory said: “Anyone who has had a pet or worked with livestock clearly understand that these animals are sentient and deserve the best standards of welfare.”
Another commented: “It is inconceivable to deny animals recognition of their completely obvious sentience. This must be repealed.”
Animals have long held the status of being sentient beings in the UK - Harry Huyton
Scottish animal welfare charity OneKind called on the Scottish Government to create legislation protect animal sentience by law.
OneKind director Harry Huyton said: “This has been a principle of EU law for twenty years. Its introduction was a landmark moment for animal protection in Europe as it recognised that all animals are sentient beings and that the European Union had a duty to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals when developing and implementing policy.
“While Westminster might be willing to take this step backwards, we can’t believe that the Scottish Parliament would. Today we’re therefore calling on the Scottish Government to urgently bring forward a proposal that would enshrine the principle of animal sentience in Scottish law.”
