Thank you to all the constituents who contacted me about the cruel fur industry.

A large number of constituents have contacted me recently raising animal welfare concerns, underscoring the strength of feeling in Islington South and Finsbury about the need to go much further in protecting animals from cruelty. I am particularly furious about the government’s abandonment of the Kept Animals Bill, a broken promise after years of dithering.

I have been an animal lover all my life and I am proud to belong to a party with a proven track record of protecting animal welfare, from the 2004 Hunting Act to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act. In 2019, I was proud to support Labour’s animal welfare manifesto, and while Shadow International Trade Secretary I consistently called for the Government to do more to ensure that animal welfare was central to our new post-Brexit trade agreements, something they have so far failed to do.

Many constituents have raised real concerns about the issue of real animal fur and the cruelty inherent to its production. I want you all to know that I am completely opposed to the use of real fur, and in April 2021 I co-sponsored my Labour colleague Taiwo Owatemi’s Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill, which demanded the cruel fur trade be put to an end before it could be used as a bargaining chip in future Brexit trade negotiations. And I am also a supporter of the campaign to change the King’s Guards hats from bear fur to faux fur.

When it comes to animal welfare, the Labour Party will always endeavour to do the right thing, and we will continue to stand up for the rights of animals. Please know that I will always stand up for the action that is needed to end to the barbaric fur industry.