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MPs Vote Against Reviving The Kept Animals Bill
10 months ago 
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RSPCA head of public affairs David Bowles said: “We are disappointed that MPs have voted against reviving the Kept Animals Bill.
“It’s terrible news for animals and we are calling on the UK Government to rethink and bring back all the proposals contained within the binned Bill back by other means. We cannot go on allowing cruel practices such as the live exports of animals for slaughter and the puppy import trade.
“After the UK Government dropped this legislation in May, today’s vote (an Opposition Day Motion) was crunch-time for animals in England and was a litmus test of this government’s genuine commitment to animal welfare, its manifesto promises and the policy commitments it put at risk when binning the Kept Animals Bill in May.
“We’re saddened that MPs have rejected the Kept Animals Bill. Enacting this legislation would have no downsides: it would make a seismic difference for animals, and the UK Government would also gain lots of ‘Brownie Points’, demonstrating that it is listening to the country.
“Sadly, today’s vote suggests that the government is prepared to further delay fulfilling its commitments to make animals’ lives better. While politicians dither, animals suffer.
“We want to see animal welfare legislation firmly back on track and we know that the public do too. Our newly-published Animal Kindness Index reveals that more than 8 out of 10 people think the government should legislate to protect animals.
“We welcome the government’s standalone proposals to ban primates as pets - which is a good start to reviving the proposals lost by dropping the Kept Animals Bill.. But the Bill contained many other proposals to tackle many other cruel practices which must be re-introduced as soon as possible. Without such action, the UK Government's policy agenda for animal welfare is merely smoke and mirrors.”
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