On Tuesday 3rd November, Esther McVey MP brought a Ten Minute Rule Motion on Food Labelling (Halal and Kosher Meat) before the House of Commons. She explained that the Bill would not prohibit religious slaughter but would ensure consumers could identify meat produced according to halal or kosher requirements and make informed purchasing decisions.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of plans to phase out the use of high-concentration carbon dioxide (CO₂) stunning of pigs in British slaughterhouses, marking an important step forward for farm animal welfare.
Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has joined animal protection organisations in signing an open letter calling on Pret A Manger to honour its commitment to phase out the use of fast-growing chickens, commonly known as ‘Frankenchickens’, from its supply chain.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, bringing together Shadow Defra Ministers, MPs, Peers and animal welfare advocates.
New nationally representative polling commissioned by CAWF finds that one in six UK adults places farm animal welfare among the Government’s five highest priorities, while 87% believe protecting farmed animals is important. The findings reveal strong cross-party support and show why animal welfare should form part of confident, credible political leadership.
The UK faces a significant “democratic deficit” in its domestic supply chain. We found that foreign entities now control approximately 45.5% of the UK’s own animal agricultural production and processing by revenue. This dominance is most acute in the dairy (64%), pork (52%), and beef (45%) sectors.
The King’s Speech is more than ceremony. It is the government’s public declaration of priorities and a clear signal to Parliament, campaigners, businesses, and the public about what matters enough to shape the legislative agenda for the year ahead. That is why the absence of animal welfare measures from this year’s King’s Speech matters so deeply.
The speech contained a comprehensive overview of the Government’s priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary Session but lacked any measures to advance animal welfare.
On Wednesday, alongside other leading animal protection organisations, CAWF jointly hosted a parliamentary drop-in event to urge the government to stop delaying the implementation of legislation that will ban the promotion and sale in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of cruel and exploitative animal experiences abroad.
This week, Parliament took a significant step in the long-overdue discussion on mandatory labelling, consumer transparency and legislative oversight when Tatton MP Esther McVey secured leave to introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill requiring compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat products.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) welcomes the Government’s consultation on the use of cages for laying hens as an important opportunity to address one of the most persistent animal welfare concerns in industrial farming.
‘Laying hens and lambs will benefit from better animal welfare standards under detailed plans set out by the Government today (January 12th).
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) welcomes the Animal Welfare Strategy and its stated priorities, including consultation on phasing out cages in farming, moving away from the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to stun pigs, and introducing standards for the humane killing of farmed fish. The Strategy also proposes measures to address loopholes in the regulation of dog and cat breeding, ban snare traps, and introduce a close season for hares
Published on ConservativeHome, this article by Chris Platt, Co-Founder of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, explores how Britain’s post-war drive for food security gave rise to today’s factory farming system — and why reform is now essential. What began as a national mission to feed the country has evolved into a model dominated by global agribusiness, with devastating consequences for animal welfare, farmers, and the environment. Chris argues for a modern Conservative vision for farming: one that restores resilience, rewards higher welfare, and strengthens Britain’s true food security for the decades ahead.
We are pleased to welcome Angela Eagle as the new DEFRA Minister with responsibility for the nation’s food security—a challenge that stands as one of the defining issues of our time. Too often, the public is assured that factory farming is the key to securing affordable, reliable food. The truth, however, is starkly different.
Across Britain, our villages and rural communities are increasingly under threat from a new wave of industrial farming. Applications to build factory farms – sometimes housing tens of thousands of animals at a time – are appearing with increasing frequency before local councils.
Today (Tuesday 22nd July) the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation has expressed disappointment at the passing of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, a new Government Amendment which will allow chickens and turkeys weighing less than 5kg to be routinely caught and handled by their legs.
We are excited to announce that Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was named ‘Leading Global Farmed Animal Welfare Advocacy 2025 ‘ in the Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2025.
LONDON, 14th July 2025 Today (Monday 14th July) the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation has welcomed an Early Day Motion (EDM) led by Adrian Ramsay MP
In June the Government published their response to the ‘Great Britain consultation on poultry catching and handling’ which detailed responses to the consultation and next steps.
’The Case Against High-Concentration CO₂ Stunning and Killing of Pigs’ by vet Dr Steve McCulloch.
The report sets out a compelling case that the current practice used on an estimated 90% of pigs slaughtered in England and Wales is inhumane and morally unacceptable. The practice causes pigs extreme pain, breathlessness, panic, and distress for up to 60 seconds before loss of consciousness.
MPs will join a Westminster Hall debate on the use of cages and crates for farmed animals on the 16th June. Irene Campbell MP, a member
Yesterday (20 May), the prestigious inaugural Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection was presented to the highly esteemed British politician, peer and lifelong environmentalist, The Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park. The occasion marked Lord Goldsmith’s relentless and vocal advocacy in animal welfare and his support in spearheading an unprecedented major United Nations initiative. The presentation, which took place at a reception in Westminster, hosted by Lord Gascoigne, was well attended by current and former cross-party MPs and Peers, including Defra ministers, parliamentarians, and civil society representatives.
The CAWF report challenges the narrative that factory farming bolsters UK food security, revealing instead how it undermines it—costing taxpayers millions, threatening farmers’ livelihoods, and increasing our reliance on imports.
On the 21st January 2025, representatives from the aquaculture industry and animal protection organisations united in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the disparity between the legal protections for farmed fish and farmed land animals, and what the Scottish government can do about it.
At a time when small farms face immense pressure and mounting challenges, our report highlights how factory farms pose a further threat to their survival. Over the past decade, small family farms in the UK have been increasingly replaced by fewer, larger facilities housing tens of thousands of animals in intensive conditions – commonly referred to as factory farms. While these industrial facilities claim to deliver cheap meat and improved food security, the reality is far more complex.
Today (Tuesday 5th November), the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the appointment of the Rt Hon. Victoria Atkins MP as Shadow Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Saturday 2nd November – Today the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed Kemi Badenoch MP as the new leader of the Conservative Party…
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) is delighted to welcome Dame Rebecca Harris DBE MP as a Patron.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation is deeply concerned by the animal welfare implications of allowing chickens to be lifted by two legs, given the evidence these animals suffer greatly during such handling. CAWF has long campaigned for the welfare of animals in transport -including catching and handling- to be improved.