Will a new government stand with us to protect wild animals and their habitats?
Hello John,
Last week’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the UK General Election will take place on 4th July took many of us by surprise.
However, Born Free is ready to ensure that wildlife protection and the welfare of animals are given a high priority through the election campaign, and are firmly on the agenda of whichever party takes office on 5th July.
WHAT DOES THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION
MEAN FOR KEY WILDLIFE POLICIES?
Sadly, our current government has failed to deliver many of the promises it has made to improve the protection of wild animals, both free-living and captive. The timing of the general election also means that some key measures that are currently on the parliamentary agenda will likely be dropped or shelved until after the election. These include:
The long-promised ban on hunting trophy imports of threatened species which is the subject of a Private Members Bill that is part way through the parliamentary process;
The extension of the Ivory Act to protect additional ivory-bearing species, including hippos, narwhals, sperm and killer whales, from trade in their ivory to, from and within the UK; and
The implementing regulations required to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, that will specify which cruel activities involving animals overseas it will be illegal to advertise or offer for sale in the UK.
These are all vitally important issues, and we need to ensure they are prioritised by our new government after the election.
WHAT DO WE WANT FROM A NEW GOVERNMENT?
Born Free published our UK Wildlife Conservation & Animal Welfare Manifesto in 2023. It sets out our priorities for any new government, for wildlife and the environment in the UK and for the UK government’s approach to wildlife protection overseas.
We accompanied its launch with polling evidence showing that the overwhelming majority of the UK public strongly supports our priorities for greater protection for wildlife and higher animal welfare standards.
READ THE MANIFESTO
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
In the coming weeks, we will be contacting parliamentary candidates, imploring them not to let animal welfare and wildlife protection fall off the agenda – and we will be asking for your help, so please look out for our emails at this vitally important time for nature.
We are also inviting all our UK-based supporters to join us at Restore Nature Now: a peaceful protest for nature which will take place in London on Saturday 22nd June. You can register to take part on the Restore Nature Now website, and closer to the time we will share details of where Born Free supporters can meet, with links to downloadable and printable posters to bring along.
REGISTER TO ATTEND
Animals don’t have votes, but we do. In the midst of a global biodiversity crisis, and with the UK now recognised as being one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, we must make it clear to all our political candidates that wild animals and their habitats matter and deserve our support.
Dr Mark Jones
Head of Policy
Born Free
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