I have pledged to support BUAV’s ‘Vote Cruelty Free’ manifesto.

The ‘Vote Cruelty Free’ Manifesto calls for politicians to put a stop to the use of cats and dogs in research, the practice of importing non-human primates for use in laboratories and the suffering of animals in the most extreme experiments. It also calls for increased accessibility to information about animal experiments, the prevention of animal testing for non-medical experiments and calls for a stop to the creation of genetically altered animals.

I am proud that Labour has such a strong record of protecting animals and that we are taking steps to improve animal welfare. The last Labour Government took bold steps to end the cruel and unnecessary suffering of animals. We banned hunting with dogs, secured an end to cosmetic testing on animals, banned fur farming and we also introduced the Animal Welfare Act in 2006.

Our Labour values tell us that we have a moral duty to treat the animals we share our planet with in a humane and compassionate way. Labour has made six commitments: we would defend the Hunting Act, ban wild animals in circuses, put a stop to inhumane badger culls, review the ineffective regulation of the breeding and selling of dogs and cats, tackle wildlife crime and champion the fight against global animal cruelty.

I and my Labour colleagues have stood up for animal rights issues in Parliament. No other major political party has such a proven track record of decisive action for animals at home, on farms and in the wild. If I am re-elected in May, I and my Labour colleagues will continue to campaign for improved animal welfare.

You can read more about Labour’s commitment to animal welfare here