The TV star leads a string of celebrities and animal rights activists calling on the government to live up to its promises to protect animals and fight abuse
Dame Joanna Lumley is at the forefront of calls for the government to deliver on its promise(
Actress Dame Joanna Lumley is today urging Rishi Sunak to honor his Tory pledges to promote animal welfare.
The ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ star is among celebrities to sign a letter urging the Prime Minister to deliver on Conservative promises made in 2021 – including enforcing new legislation to tackle animal abuse and strengthen protections.
Dame Joanna, 77, told the Mirror: “The animals are completely abandoned because the government has shockingly failed to implement plans promised two years ago.
“I call on the Prime Minister to advance vital animal welfare measures, including the Captive Animals Act and an import ban on cruel pelts, as a matter of utmost importance.”
The activists have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak(
The letter, which was also signed by pop idol singer Will Young, TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher and Countdown’s Susie Dent, told the Tory boss: “Britain is proud to be a nation of animal lovers and in May 2021, the government pledged to empower our country’s animal lovers.” With the release of his action plan for animal welfare, he positioned himself as a “global advocate for animal rights”.
“The plan promised the animal-loving British public that it would improve the lives and well-being of millions of animals.
“But two years later, we and the animals we care about so much have been severely abandoned.”
The current version of the law, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, is stuck in the House of Commons.
Singer Will Young signed the letter(
If passed, it aims to combat cruel puppy smuggling and live exports, ban the keeping of monkeys as pets, and improve zoo regulations.
But in a separate letter from 25 animal welfare organizations and campaign groups, the Prime Minister is told that the legislation “has fallen by the wayside as the government’s bill on kept animals has not received parliamentary time for over 17 months”.
It continued: “Our patience and trust are now exhausted.
“The Animal Husbandry Act and most of the Action Plan seem little more than an inconvenience to a government that thinks it can quietly break its promises.
“Animal issues matter to voters.”
Claire Bass, Senior Campaigns Manager at Humane Society International, said: “The government’s apparent disinterest and unwillingness to come up with an animal action plan of its own is frankly startling.
“MPs tell us they receive more voter correspondence calling for better animal welfare than on any other issue, so passing legislation like the Farmed Animals Act and a ban on fur imports should be a simple and obvious decision in terms of the be popular politics.
“But instead, we and the animals are having to endure endless delays that seem to be downgraded by this government despite great public concern.
“We urge Mr. Sunak to remember his party’s promises and begin to take the actions animals deserve and voters expect.”
Elisa Allen, vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said: “Animals are in danger and the government has seemingly failed them as time is running out to keep their word.”
RSPCA executive director Chris Sherwood claimed that “animals have been left in limbo by continued inaction on important animal welfare issues”.
RSPCA executive director Chris Sherwood called on the government to live up to its promise(
He added: “We urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to end the gridlock, revive the Captive Animals Act and ensure this government delivers on its promises for the country’s animals – and help create a country in where all animals are respected and treated with the kindness and compassion they deserve.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and we are fully committed to delivering on our Manifesto Animal Welfare Commitments, building on the actions we have already taken to raise them penalties for cruelty to animals and passage of the Ivory Act.”
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