Labour proposes end to cull of badgers

A BAN on exporting animals for slaughter, an end to the badger cull and expanding affordable vet care for pet owners on low incomes have been proposed by Labour.

A 50-point animal welfare draft policy document also sets out plans to strengthen the Hunting Act to prevent illegal fox hunting and enshrine the principle that animals are sentient in law as the UK leaves the European Union.

As well as working with organisations such as PDSA to expand accessibility to affordable vet care, the proposals include exploring the potential for elderly and disabled people who move into care homes to keep their pets.

Other measures include mandatory labelling of domestic and imported meat including country of origin and production and slaughter methods, as it seeks to set out its position as the “party of animal welfare”. Proposed policies also include: Consulting landlords on giving tenants a default right to own pets unless there is evidence they are causing a nuisance;

Requiring motorists to report accidents where an animal has been injured;

Designing post-Brexit farm subsidies to move away from intensive factory farming and poor environmental practices and ending routine preventative use of antibiotics for livestock.

The proposals have been backed by the League Against Cruel Sports and conservation charity WWF. But Tory MP Steve Double said: “Labour are belatedly playing catch-up with the huge progress made by this Government on animal welfare.” THE QUEEN has made history by presenting the first female Black Rod with the ceremonial staff behind the name.

The monarch invested Sarah Clarke as Lady Usher of the Black Rod in the private audience room at Buckingham Palace, by presenting her with the thin, ebony Black Rod and chain of office.

Ms Clarke is the first woman to hold the post in the House of Lords in the 650-year history of the role.

She has taken over from former Black Rod David Leakey, and met the Queen ahead of her formal introduction into the Lords next week.

Black Rod is the senior official responsible for maintaining order at the House of Lords, and is thrust into the spotlight each year at the State Opening of Parliament, when sent to bang on the door of the House of Commons to summon the nation’s MPs to hear the Queen’s Speech.

Ms Clarke was responsible for the organisation of the annual Wimbledon tournament in south west London as championships director at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, and has previously held roles at four Olympic Games, the London Marathon and UK Sport.

Black Rod is appointed by the monarch, and the Queen approved Ms Clarke’s position in November, on the recommendation of a selection panel chaired by the Lord Speaker.

The present rod dates from 1883 and is emblazoned with the heraldic motto

translated as “Shame be to him, who evil thinks”.

It is three and a half feet long, decorated with a gold lion and garter and has a gold orb as a chivalric centrepiece.

As well as organising access to and maintaining order within the House of Lords, Black Rod acts as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain, with responsibility for major ceremonial events in the Palace of Westminster.

Ms Clarke has said she is “both deeply honoured and delighted” to be offered the post.