I’m receiving a lot of messages about animal sentience and wanted to set the record straight.
No, MPs did not vote that animals aren’t sentient. Of course we believe that animals have feelings.
The amendment in question was about whether we want to transfer existing EU laws to replace UK law we already have – and of course we don’t want to do that as we are committed to higher standards of animal welfare than exist in the EU. The EU allows animals to be kept in horrifically cruel conditions. It also allows bullfighting, foie gras, fur farming, donkey torture and even goat throwing. The UK has higher standards of animal welfare than any other country in the Europe – as seen by our recent reforms – and we certainly want to use Brexit as a chance to strengthen this even further.