Animal Welfare

Chair: Claire Bass, Humane World for Animals

Vice-Chair: Arthur Thomas, Four Paws UK
Link: Lisa Manning, Policy Officer

Update from the Group:

The new Animal Welfare Strategy was published at the end of 2026. The group will work to ensure that ambition is met with delivery.

Between 2021 and 2024 the Animal Welfare Strategy Group worked to encourage the then Government to implement the range of promises contained in its May 2021 Animal Welfare Action Plan.

Two of those promises were fully delivered, in the form of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, which received Royal Assent in April 2022. Link’s briefings (produced through the Better Deal for Animals coalition) supported the passage of this legislation through Parliament and can be found on this page.

The group also helped to support the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act, banning the live export of farm animals for fattening or slaughter, which received Royal Assent in May 2024. 

For further information, contact Lisa Manning, Policy Officer at Link

Last updated: February 2026