Prime Minister urged to ‘Save the Animals Abroad Bill’

London (8th May 2022) - New UK national polling from the #DontBetrayAnimals campaign, backed by a group of 14 of the country’s leading animal protection charities including World Animal Protection, shows British voters want to see the government deliver on its promise to protect animals. 

Almost three quarters (72%) of respondents want to see this government pass more laws designed to improve animal welfare and protect animals from cruelty. #DontBetrayAnimals campaign is calling on the government to respond to the public’s wishes and include the Animals Abroad Bill in the upcoming Queen’s Speech. The new seat-by-seat MRP analysis of the polling illustrates the political, as well as moral, imperative for doing so. 

If the government fails to deliver on its commitments to animals, as set out in its May 2021 Action Plan for Animal Welfare, this will be at odds with voters’ interests, as illustrated by the poll highlights, which estimate:

• Almost three quarters (73%) of voters in seats held by cabinet ministers want to see the government pass more laws to protect animals. 
• Passing laws to protect animals is a doorstep issue for supporters of every major political party - only Brexit Party voters registered less than majority support, although almost half (48%) still support more laws to improve animal welfare. 
• Crucially, almost three quarters (72%) of voters in 20 of the most marginally held Conservative seats want to see the government pass more laws to protect animals - failing to do so could cost it dearly at the next General Election.

Having faced contentious local elections this week, the government needs to act fast to deliver what the electorate wants - by including the Animals Abroad Bill in the upcoming Queen’s Speech, and fulfilling promises to legislate to protect animals it made in both its manifesto and Action Plan for Animal Welfare.

Jessica Terry, World Animal Protection UK external affairs manager, said:

"The government has repeatedly promised to introduce the Animals Abroad Bill, however we are yet to see any action. Through this bill, the prime minister promised to end the horrors of trophy hunting and cruel animal entertainment and we will continue to speak up until this legislation is passed. All animals deserve happy and healthy lives."

Notes 

• Groups backing the #DontBetrayAnimals campaign are: Animal Aid, Animal Equality, Born Free, Compassion in World Farming, FOUR PAWS UK, Humane Society International/UK, The Humane League, League Against Cruel Sports, LUSH, Naturewatch Foundation, PETA, RSPCA, Save The Asian Elephants, World Animal Protection.
• The polling was run on the Focaldata platform. Data was collected from a nationally representative sample of 10,018 adults between 11th and 20th April 2022. Using the polling data, Focaldata completed a constituency-level analysis using MRP modelling.

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Image credits: News story: Following Giants; News listing: Amy Jones / Moving Animals

Almost three quarters (73%) of voters in seats held by cabinet ministers want to see the government pass more laws to protect animals.