Southport Labour’s claims about the sentient animals’ vote are a ridiculous misconception and nothing more than fake news - Damien Moore MP.

In recent days, I have been inundated with emails and calls from residents who are rightly concerned about the reported vote in Parliament on the welfare of animals, and I wish to set the record straight.

Southport Labour have suggested that the vote last week on New Clause 30 of the EU Withdrawal Bill somehow signalled a weakening in the protection of animals. That is plain wrong. Voting against the amendment was not a vote against the idea that animals are sentient and feel pain. That is a ridiculous misconception and nothing more than fake news.

Ministers explained on the floor of the house last week that this Government’s policies on animal welfare are driven by our recognition that animals are indeed sentient beings and we are acting energetically to reduce the risk of harm to animals – whether on farms or in the wild. Last week’s vote was simply the rejection of a faulty amendment, which would not have achieved its stated aims of providing appropriate protection for animals.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister has made it crystal clear that we will strengthen our animal welfare rules, and the government will ensure that any necessary changes required to UK law are made in a properly rigorous and comprehensive way to ensure animal sentience is recognised after we leave the EU. What’s more, the Government are already proposing primary legislation to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years, and the creation of a new statutory, independent body to uphold environmental standards.

The truth is that the current EU instrument – Article 13 – has not delivered the progress we want to see. It does not have direct effect in law – in practice its effect is unclear and it has failed to prevent practices across the EU which are cruel and painful to animals.

In contrast, here in the UK, we are improving animal welfare standards without EU input and beyond the scope of Article 13. We are making CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses – a requirement which goes above and beyond any EU rule. We will consult on draft legislation to jail animal abusers for up to five years – more than almost every other European nation. We propose combatting elephant poaching with a ban on the ivory trade which is more comprehensive than anywhere else in Europe.

Our ban on microbeads which harm marine animals has been welcomed by Greenpeace as “the strongest in the world”, and is certainly the strongest in Europe.
Once we have left the EU there is even more we could do. EU rules prevent us from restricting or banning the live export of animals for slaughter. EU rules also restrict us from cracking down on puppy smuggling or banning the import of puppies under 6 months. Article 13 has not stopped any of these practices – but leaving the EU gives us the chance to do much better, and we will.

So, there it is, the Conservative Party are strengthening jail sentences for those who abuse animals. We believe that animals are sentient and feel pain and are committed to further measures to enhance animal welfare. Once again, the Labour Party and their Chairwoman, Mhairi Doyle, are demonstrating their contempt for the people of Southport by spreading fake news in an effort to win votes. It's disappointing, but not surprising.

Southport labour Party response here:

"It seems Mr Moore has finally gone "full Trump" as not only does he already block those constituents on social media who disagree with his views but now he cries "fake news".

Just the other day he was telling people that he'd not voted for the clause because he claimed it was some sort of delaying tactic to slow down the EU Withdrawal Bill but now that he has taken his instructions from on high he says it was actually because it was a faulty clause that wouldn't have achieved its aims.

Bodies such as the RSPCA have expressed similar concerns to ourselves and they are still asking that a specific commitment to animal sentience be added to the Brexit legislation; is Mr Moore accusing the RSPCA of spreading "fake news" too?

It's good that the Government is now seeking to clarify its position but that has only come after a public outcry.

Until a firm piece of UK legislation arrives specifically guaranteeing animal sentience, which the current legislation does not have, then Mr Moore cannot possibly justify his "fake news" claim and would do far better to spend his time ensuring that animal sentience is clearly recognised in statute rather than pursuing this lame excuse."

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