Earlier this week (14^th March), we launched a station-wide advertising campaign in Westminster underground station in London, targeting policymakers on their way to and from work. The adverts urge the Government to keep their promise to ban the live export of animals from Britain and to deliver on the other pledges they have made to improve standards for farmed animals.

Broken promises?

Whilst some positive legislation should shortly be secured, such as the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, which would reinstate the recognition of animal sentience in UK law, there is deep concern that a number of other Bills and proposals have completely stalled.

The Government vowed to deliver the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which would ban the live export of animals from Britain for fattening or slaughter. But the Bill has not been seen since November and time is running out for it to pass in this parliamentary session. There must not be any further dither or delay if the Government is to honour this manifesto commitment.

We are also awaiting other promised reforms, including “examining the use of cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs.” This would be the next step towards ending the cage age for millions of farmed animals but, again, no progress has been made in almost a year.

And it’s been widely reported that the Government is set to go back on its commitment to consider a ban on the sale or import of the cruel ‘luxury’ food, foie gras. We simply can’t allow this to happen.

Piling on the pressure

“It is so important to keep MPs and policymakers focused on these issues, and what better way than to get our message in front of them on their way to work each morning?” says Sarah Moyes, our Senior Campaigns Manager. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to take out these adverts to drive home our message. They have enabled us to grab the attention of policymakers and we are piling on the pressure to help millions of UK farmed animals live a better life.”

Making an impact

The adverts are already having an impact, with a number of MPs and Peers backing our call on the Government. Yesterday (15th March), outside Parliament, Sir Roger Gale MP, Jim McMahon MP, Daniel Zeichner MP, Ruth Jones MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb and Baroness Hayman of Ullock took part in a photo-op to encourage the Prime Minister to keep his promises on animal welfare policies.

Westminster Tube Ads Urge UK Government to Keep Their Promises