New UK Prime Minister fires environment minister

With a questionable history of opinions on animal welfare, Liz Truss is shaping up to be a damaging figure for animal rights in the UK.

During her time as a member of parliament, Truss has made many decisions that would spark fear in anyone who desires the progression of humanity to a cruelty-free world. Truss was prominently against the UK ban on fox hunting, brought into question back in 2017. According to the Guardian, Liz denied the relevance of animal welfare in trade deals for Brexit. When serving as the head of DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Liz cut government spending by a reduction of 34,000 farm inspections per year.

Whilst the Tory government have failed to champion the importance of animal rights and planetary welfare, Zac Goldsmith can be accredited with significant wins for the UK’s progression. He was a leader in the enactment of an ‘Action Plan for Animal Welfare’ last year. This bill even legislated the sentience of crustaceans but is not progressive enough to prevent lobsters from being boiled alive. As much of the bill hasn’t been enacted yet, there is worry that much of it will be scrapped.

Just last week, legislation that prevented the importation of animal trophies, fur and fois gras, was relinquished.

Mark Spencer has now been appointed to head DEFRA, a man who attempted to block the bill against the advertising of cruel elephant attractions in foreign countries.

Zac Goldsmith has expressed sadness over losing his job. The Guardian have reported that this has startled fear over the future of animal welfare under Liz Truss’ government.

In Zac’s departure he stated ‘We have so much to do to turn the tide here… The UK is, after all, one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries’.

Article written by Aisling Geraghty- Australia