UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was at the centre of a recent demonstration, calling on the government to finally ban live-animal exports…
ADVERTISEMENT
Rishi Sunak is being urged to ban live animal exports as concern over the government’s inaction continues to grow.
The UK Prime Minister was the target of a recent PETA demonstration in London, where activists were ‘herded into a hot cramped Tube carriage’ heading to Westminster.
Those involved donned animal masks and held placards reading ‘For Us, the Commute is a Real Killer’ and ‘Rishi: Ban Live Exports’.
The demonstration aimed to highlight how it is still legal in the UK for animals to be transported for fattening and slaughter; despite previous pledges to ban such activity.
Rishi Sunak called to take action
“Animals raised for their flesh already suffer tremendously. The least we can do is spare them the unnecessary trauma of an arduous journey overseas before they’re killed,” says PETA’s Kate Werner.
“PETA is calling on Sunak to keep his party’s promise to end this stain on our society without further excuses or delay.”
ADVERTISEMENT
PETA supporters in sheep and cow masks brandishing signs proclaiming, “For Us, the Commute is a Real Killer,” were herded into a hot, cramped Tube carriage bound for Westminster. Photo © PETA UK
UK government controversy
In 2021, the government published a thorough action plan for animal welfare. Conservatives said it would ‘revolutionise the treatment of animals in the UK and introduce measures to protect the welfare of animals abroad’.
Published by then-Environment Secretary George Eustice, the document said the UK would ‘end the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter’. It also promised other measures including a potential ban on foie-gras.
However, a year later and cabinet members intervened to block the Animals Abroad Bill – which was then scrapped last month.
Despite the government insisting that measures in the bill, including the live-export ban, will be delivered by ‘other means’ – PETA says it is ‘yet to take any action’.
*Sources state there have been no live animal exports in the UK since 2020. However, the Kept Animal Bill would have ensured this practice never happens again.
Here, we expose the reality behind live animal transportation in the UK
Featured image © Samir Hussein via Getty Images
