Since being elected in 2010, I have made the welfare of our animals a priority. Leaving the EU has only seen our world-leading animal welfare legislation strengthened. I was proud to support the last government when they released an Action Plan for Animal Welfare, revolutionising the treatment of animals in the UK, building on our existing standards and committing to a range of new game-changing welfare measures to protect pets, livestock and wild animals.
In 2022, I voted for the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act which enshrined the recognition that animals are sentient in domestic law. It has created a proportionate accountability mechanism to help reassure that central government policymaking takes this into account.
More recently, I supported the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill 2024 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The first of these bans the export of certain livestock from the UK for slaughter, ensuring that animals are appropriately cared for under our strong legal protections. The latter increases the police’s power to respond to livestock worrying incidents.
However, we know that there is still more work to do on this issue, and I am currently not only supporting, but also introducing, bills that reinforce our country’s commitment to improving the lives of animals. In July 2026, I introduced the Sale and Supply of Glue Traps (Prohibition) Bill, which limits the sale or supply of glue traps to only those holding a proper licence. These traps inadvertently catch many household pets and non-target wildlife, causing unnecessary suffering to countless animals. Even though there is existing legislation limiting their use, I believe we can go further to end this practice. The bill I have introduced will not only make the use of glue traps illegal but will also prohibit the distribution and sale of them to the public.
Our Brexit freedoms have been crucial to allow us to make real progress in this area, and the Conservative Party and I will continue to support legislation that meaningfully protects our animals and livestock.