‘Ad Van Tour’ hits the road

This week (6th – 9th March), we are taking to the road to urge Defra Ministers, and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to finally ban live animal exports.

No more delay!

The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto promised to ban live exports for slaughter and fattening. The Kept Animals Bill, which will bring the ban come into effect, was published by the Government in May 2021 but has now been stalled in Parliament for over 15 months.

Meanwhile, during the Conservative Party leadership contest, Rishi Sunak said he looked forward to ‘championing’ the Kept Animals Bill. But Defra Ministers and the PM have failed to pass this Bill, and now simply say this legislation will progress ‘when time allows’.

Ban this cruel trade once and for all

Earlier today, we started our truck tour at the constituency office of the MP for Taunton Deane, and Defra Minister, Rebecca Pow. The van will also visit the constituency offices of Defra’s Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey, and Ministers Mark Spencer, and Trudy Harrison, culminating in a stop at the Prime Minister’s constituency in Yorkshire. As the digital ad van makes its way across England, it will display images of calves and sheep suffering during export journeys from Britain to Europe, highlighting the need to ban this cruel trade once and for all.

At each stop around the country, we will hand a model animal transport lorry over to the Minister. The model trucks will be full of the signatures of over 27,000 supporters who added their names to our recent petition demanding that the Kept Animals Bill passes through Parliament and into law without further delay.

What is the Government waiting for?

“The Kept Animals Bill has not progressed in Parliament since November 2021 and the Government simply aren’t making it a priority, despite calls from the British public and NGOs, including Compassion, to do so,” said James West, our Senior Policy Manager. “By taking our campaign to the doorsteps of those who can advance this Bill, we are making it impossible for them to ignore it any longer.”

“Live exports cause overcrowding, stress, exhaustion, dehydration, hunger and even death. This cruel trade must end. Ministers won’t take the Kept Animals Bill back to the House of Commons to secure a British live export ban, so we are making sure their constituents know about it. This legislation has cross-party support and is ready for its final stages in the House of Commons. So, what is the Government waiting for?”