Animal Welfare

How important is animal welfare to you?

Animal welfare is a priority for me and for many people across Chichester, as shown by the brilliant work of local organisations like the Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre in Sidlesham, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital and the Mount Noddy Centre. I believe the law must continue to evolve to better protect animals from harm, and I'm committed to working across Parliament to make that happen.

Like us, animals can experience suffering, pain and fear. Neuroscientists are confident that mammals, birds and many other creatures possess a level of consciousness. If we accept animal sentience, then animal cruelty must be considered unacceptable, full stop.

What specific reforms are you pushing for?

I'm backing a range of measures to strengthen animal welfare protections, including:

Closing the legal loophole that allows the import of dogs with cropped ears

Cracking down on puppy and horse smuggling

Ending live exports of animals

Banning the import and sale of animal fur

Banning the import of hunting trophies, except in genuinely limited circumstances such as where there is historical or artistic significance

Minimising the use of animals in scientific experimentation, particularly in the cosmetics industry, and funding research into alternatives

What is the Liberal Democrats' track record on animal welfare?

We have a strong record to point to.

In the Coalition Government, we improved animal welfare standards in agriculture, protected funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and ended the practice of housing chickens in battery cages. In the previous Parliament, Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron brought forward a Bill to reintroduce measures from the Kept Animals Bill and strengthen protections against animal cruelty.

Danny Chambers MP also introduced the Puppy Smuggling Bill, which became law in 2025. This law introduced tough new import restrictions and was a major step forward in ending the suffering of thousands of animals.

Are you concerned about the rise in violence against animals, particularly birds, across the Country?

We have certainly seen an increase in the number of reports of wildfowl, including swans, being targeted in the Chichester constituency with catapults. My recent visit to Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital confirmed that more animals have been taken to them in recent years with injuries sustained from air pellets and ball bearings. This trend, that was borne out of violent content on social media, is an appalling attack on our local wildlife and I have been working with the local council, local councillors and Chichester Police to crack down on this behaviour.

Brent Lodge are also undertaking work providing education in local schools, which I have encouraged local schools to engage with.