Standing up for Animal Welfare

Bobby Dean supports higher welfare standards in farming and stronger penalties for animal cruelty.

I know from the volume of emails I get from constituents that many of you care deeply about animal welfare. I want you to know that I do too.

There are some astonishing stories about the current treatment of farm animals. Caging of farrowing sows in such small crates that they can’t turn round and killing of piglets by hitting their heads (“piglet thumping"). Some people try to justify treatment like this on the grounds of cost, claiming that looking after animals better would drive up food prices and lead  to undercutting by imports from countries with lower standards - as allowed by trade deals done in recent years.

I don’t accept that reasoning. I believe we have a moral responsibility to uphold high standards of animal welfare. Animals can experience suffering, pain and fear, and the scientific consensus is clear that many farmed animals, including mammals and birds, are sentient beings. If we accept their sentience, then cruelty in any form must be considered unacceptable. 

The Liberal Democrats have a long-standing record of standing up for animals. We have consistently supported stronger penalties for animal cruelty and higher welfare standards in farming. We are also pushing the Government to uphold higher animal welfare standards in the pig sector. 

We also believe that UK animal welfare standards must be upheld in all trade deals. Liberal Democrats are calling for minimum standards to be applied to all imported food, so that British farmers who operate to high standards are not undercut by lower-welfare imports.

My colleagues and I are committed to improving animal welfare on farms by giving farmers the training, support and financial incentives they need to develop even higher, world-leading standards. That includes more funding for peer-to-peer learning, so that farmer networks are rewarded for sharing knowledge and skills. 

I will continue to support action to end cruel practices and raise animal welfare standards across the food system. 

– Bobby Dean