Manifesto Animals Count

Manifesto Animals Count

Our mission is to establish a voice for the animals through a dedicated political party, which focuses on respect and compassion for all living beings.

We believe that animals, whose well-being often ends up at the bottom of people's priority list, are in need of better protection.

Animals Count will set a new agenda on animal welfare, an issue dear to millions and on which MP’s receive more mail than any other.

As the UK political party most strongly advocating for the protection of animals, ‘Animals Count’s aims are:

To raise the moral and legal status of animals by recognising them as sentient beings, including through facilitating recognition and consideration of the rights of animals in the UK Constitution, in the UK Animal Welfare Act and in EU Directives and other international legislation.

To facilitate increased respect for all sentient life by promoting animal welfare education and humane education at all educational levels.

To protect the environment through sustainable farming and development activities.

To protect human rights and promote healthy living.

Farmed animals

To phase out farming systems with poor welfare consequences for animals.

To improve animal welfare by raising farming standards and by removing trade barriers and other measures that encourage poor welfare or husbandry standards. Alternatives not using animals or practices greatly enhancing animal welfare are supported.

To phase out livestock farming subsidies in sectors where consumer demand is falling, and redirect such subsidies towards plant based agriculture and the promotion of biodiversity. Livestock farming subsidies should further be redirected to: 'environment', 'education', 'public health' and 'pensions'.

To end the long distance transportation of live animals to European continental destinations and further afield.

Laboratory animals

Establish an independent transparent scientific inquiry to thoroughly review the ethical, scientific and economic implications of animal research.

Based on ethical, ecological and scientific grounds the use of all non-human primates in experiments should be banned immediately.

To ban all harmful use of animals in scientific research, toxicity testing and education. To facilitate increased funding for the development, validation and implementation of non-animal alternatives.

Wild animals

To ban all hunting.

To promote wildlife preservation, habitat conservation and biodiversity.

Companion animals

To establish a basic national animal health care system comparable to the NHS.

To establish a list of animals that can suitably be kept as companion animals based on their needs. All other (exotic) animals are unsuited as pets and should not be kept.

To ban breeding of companion animals to meet breed standards or for other purposes that result in hereditary anatomical, physiological or other impairments potentially contrary to animal welfare.

To strengthen legislation and regulations against animal neglect and abuse by strengthening and extending police powers, increasing penalties for offenders, and increasing public education programmes concerning responsible companion animal care and related topics.

Animals used for entertainment

To phase out the use of animals for blood sports, racing events, any other form of entertainment, and in advertising, that may result in adverse animal welfare consequences.