Rishi Sunak vows to ban live animal exports and hunting trophies

Rishi Sunak has also promised to ban exports of animals as imports of hunting trophies.

In a move that has thrilled animal welfare campaigners, the candidate for the next Conservative leader and prime minister has pledged to defend the the Kept Animals Bill, which had seemed doomed under Boris Johnson.

Her decision puts pressure on rival Liz Truss to follow suit - despite her animal welfare record being considered unfavorable.

The ban live exports for slaughter and fattening, prohibits the keeping of primates as pets and aims to combat the smuggling of puppies.

It would also create a new criminal offense of kidnapping pets.

RecommendedWhy the outlook is bleak for animal welfare under the next Tory Prime Minister

But legislation had stalled, prompting t widespread fears that it would never be adopted.< /p>

Thousands of calves and sheep are exported by sea and road from the UK on arduous journeys to Spain, Italy and even in North Africa, often in extreme temperatures and with insufficient food or water.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Animals Bill, which banned the import of animal parts bodies of hunted wild animals, was dropped at the insistence of Jacob Rees-Mogg and Mark Spencer.

The heads of nearly 30 campaign organizations on Friday wrote to the two leadership candidates to ask them to pledge to deliver on commitments made in the Conservative Party's Animal Welfare Action Plan last year n.m.

Most of the pledges were also in the party's election manifesto.

Their campaign won the support of Larry the Downing Street cat, who tweeted, "To my next tenant , please confirm that you will be taking action for the animals."

Within hours, Mr. Sunak's team responded, saying, "Rishi is looking forward to championing this bill as he continues to make progress in Parliament,” adding that he was “committed to banning the import of hunting trophies of thousands of species.”

Nick Palmer, Head of Compassion at World Farming UK, said said he and the other charity leaders were very disappointed not to have received a response from Ms Truss.

Recommended

"We have all felt so far that none of the candidates are showing much interest in animal welfare, so we think this is a very positive move."

The Independent< /em> has contacted the team at Mrs. Truss.