The Rt Hon Theresa May MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA
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The Rt Hon Theresa May MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA 24 February 2019 Dear Prime Minister, We support the #BetterDealForAnimals campaign and urge your government’s swift action to recognise animal sentience in law and ensure that animal welfare laws across the UK are maintained and strengthened in the event of the UK leaving the European Union. We are at a critical crossroads for animals in the UK - the welfare of billions of animals is at risk if the UK Government does not put in place a new law to replicate current EU animal protections. Losing these protections would mean the governments of the UK would no longer be legally bound to ensure good standards of animal welfare when creating new laws and policies. This would expose animals to major new threats such as: trade deals that allow imports of lower welfare animal products, leading to UK farmers lowering their welfare standards to compete on price; animals’ welfare needs being overlooked in planning major infrastructure developments, such as new motorways or airports; and an expansion of inhumane wildlife management practices, like cruel culls. We also support calls for an independent expert body to provide advice to Ministers at all levels of government to ensure that they are fulfilling their duty to animal welfare, and ensure that policy decisions are underpinned by the best scientific and ethics expertise. We welcome your government’s pledge to be a ‘world leader on animal welfare’. You have before you an important test of that commitment. Please choose the right path, and give voiceless animals the legal protections they need and deserve. Yours Sincerely Jilly Cooper CBE, Mel C, Alesha Dixon, Peter Egan, Ben Fogle FRGS, Amanda Holden, Dame Twiggy Lawson DBE, Rula Lenska, Leona Lewis, Matt Lucas, Joanna Lumley OBE, Evanna Lynch, Virginia Mckenna OBE, Deborah Meaden, Thandie Newton OBE, Lesley Nichol, Bill Oddie OBE, Chris Packham CBE, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Will Travers OBE, Lucy Watson, Pete Wicks Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Animal Aid, Animal Defenders International, Animal Equality United Kingdom, Animal Protection Agency, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Badger Trust, Born Free Foundation, Catholic Concern for Animals, Cats Protection, Change for Animals Foundation, Christian Vegetarian Association, Compassion in World Farming, Cruelty Free International, Crustacean Compassion, Dogs Trust, Four Paws, the Humane League, Humane Society International, International Animal Rescue, IFAW, League Against Cruel Sports, Mayhew, Naturewatch Foundation, OneKind, PDSA, PETA, Quaker Concern for Animals, RSPCA, The Donkey Sanctuary, Save Me Trust, Shellfish Network, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Wild Welfare, Wildlife and Countryside Link World Animal Protection .