While this is a step in the right direction from this Conservative government, they still have a long way to go to prove their credibility on animal welfare  – Hayman

Sue
Hayman MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, commenting
on the announcement that the government intends to bring forward legislation to
increase maximum sentencing for animal cruelty cases, said:

“I am
pleased that the Government has decided to follow Labour’s manifesto commitment
to increase maximum sentencing for the worst cases of animal cruelty.

“We know
that judges have complained for some time that they want to hand down tougher
sentences to those guilty of abusing animals. The current six-month maximum
sentence is simply inadequate for the severity of some of these terrible
crimes.

“While
this is a step in the right direction from this Conservative government, they still
have a long way to go to prove their credibility on animal welfare following
Theresa May’s declared support for fox hunting and their recent shocking and
poorly regulated roll out of the badger cull.

“We will
be monitoring the Government closely to make sure they implement this
policy having previously announced and failed to deliver on a ban on ivory
trading and wild animals in circuses.”