Born Free co-founders send open letter Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Charity calls on the UK government to take decisive action for nature and wild animals.
Dame Virginia McKenna and Will Travers OBE © Ranald Mackechnie
Born Free Co-Founders Dame Virginia McKenna DBE and Will Travers OBE have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, laying out in clear terms the action his government must take to improve the lives of wild animals and protect nature, in the UK and around the world.
The letter has been backed by Born Free Patron Nicky Campbell OBE, broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham CBE, and the heads of several other animal welfare charities including Badger Trust, Humane Society International/UK, League Against Cruel Sports, People’s Trust for Endangered Species and Cornwall Seal Research Trust.
More than 8,000 Born Free supporters have also added their names to the open letter.
During the election campaign, the Labour party committed to protect landscapes and wildlife, promote nature recovery, meet the targets in the Environment Act, build sustainable homes that support biodiversity, and improve access to nature.
In addition, Steve Reed MP, who is now Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
“For too long, too many animals, including the world’s most endangered species, have been left to suffer in silence. The Conservatives are on the side of animal cruelty. Labour will end it. The next Labour government will introduce the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation to end animal cruelty…”
However, so far, we have seen little detail on how the government intends make good on these promises.
The UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. Vast numbers of wild animals continue to suffer here in the UK through cruel and destructive management practices, persecution in the name of culture or tradition, and in poorly regulated captive environments.
The open letter calls on the government to fulfil its manifesto commitments to ban trail hunting and the use of snares, end the cruel and ineffective badger cull, and end the import of vile hunting trophies – but goes further by outlining the wider measures that are needed to restore wildlife and end wild animal suffering.
The letter urges the government to appoint dedicated Commissioners for Nature and Animal Welfare at Cabinet level, to coordinate work across all government departments for the benefit of wildlife, and hold them to account.
It also proposes the formation of a Nature Security Council, bringing together experts from outside of government to take innovative thinking to the corridors of power, and address the current crisis threatening all life on earth.
Born Free has sent the letter to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Environment and his ministerial team in advance of the Labour Party Conference which takes place from Sunday 22 – Wednesday 25 September, where Born Free will be co-hosting a side event highlighting the need for bold action from the new government to protect and restore nature and improve the welfare of both captive and free-living wild animals.
Born Free supporters and members of the public can continue to add their names to the letter, so that the government knows the British public will not tolerate the continued destruction and degradation of nature, or the suffering and exploitation of wild animals.