Scottish election: its time to deliver change for animals
Following the Scottish Parliament election last week, we are taking a look at the parties and MSPs elected to find out what the results mean for animals across Scotland.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) received the biggest amount of votes, falling short of a majority at 58 seats. Scottish Labour and Reform UK were tied for second, with 17 seats each. Scottish Greens follows close behind with 15 seats, leaving the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Liberal Democrats with 12 and 10 seats respectively. SNP leader and returning First Minister John Swinney has said that the party is willing to collaborate with all other parties, apart from Reform UK who have yet to say anything that suggests animal welfare is on their radar.
The Scottish Greens achieved a historic result on May 7th, with a record-breaking 15 MSPs elected. Out of all of the parties elected, it is the most committed to animal related issues, with a dedicated section to animal welfare, in which the party commits to:
Reviewing and updating Scotland’s animal welfare laws, taking into account “animals’ sentience, agency and welfare needs, as well as expanding the range of species protected under law”;
Reviewing legislation which protects wildlife to make enforcement easier;
Banning shock collars for cats and dogs;
Clamping down on the trade of exotic pets by introducing new legislation and regulations;
Rolling out a new public education campaign to raise awareness of the needs of exotic species;
Tougher regulations on fireworks;
Phasing out of harmful agricultural practices, such as the abuse of antibiotics to stimulate unnatural growth, the use of farrowing crates for pigs and cages for chickens, and the killing of day-old male chicks;
Making a swift transition to welfare and nature centred farming, with regulations to support “livestock with plant-rich diets, cage-free rearing, and calf-at-hoof dairying, as part of broader regenerative farming practices”; and
Turning Scotland into “a world-leader in farm animal welfare” and opposing UK Government moves to sign up to trade deals that would bring down the country’s high standards.
Scottish Labour have also committed to improving animal welfare across Scotland and have been in touch with Animal Concern about their position on issues that matter to us and our supporters — read their responses to our questions here. The SNP returns as the biggest party, and hopefully remains committed to continuing their track record of delivering on animal welfare issues. Find out more about each of the parties’ commitments, and the SNP’s past successes and failings concerning animal issues in our election guide.
Animal Concern is pleased that the Scottish people have chosen to elect a record number of MSPs who are committed to making a positive difference for animals. We look forward to working collaboratively with MSPs, in the new session of parliament, to deliver effective and sustainable change for animals across the country, and pushing for accountability of those who compromise the well-being of animals.