Maintaining principle of animal sentience in Scotland after Brexit has taken a step forward
Maintaining the legal principle of animal sentience in Scotland after Brexit has taken a step forward, according to Mark Ruskell MSP, Environment spokesperson for the Scottish Greens.
Following the failure last week by Westminster to include the principle in the EU Withdrawal Bill, Mr Ruskell lodged a motion at Holyrood urging that it be included in all future legislation affecting animals in Scotland.
The motion has been signed by over 40 MSPs from all parties except the Conservatives.
After raising the issue at First Ministers' Questions today, Mark said:
“Scotland is a nation of animal lovers but the Westminster government's failure to include the sentience principle in the EU Withdrawal Bill has opened the door to animal suffering. I'm pleased the First Minister agreed that it's a principle worth upholding but I don't agree with her that it is already fully enshrined in Scots law.
"She said that her government will look at it further, so let's fill the gaps that currently exist. Animal welfare must remain high on the agenda as the Tories attempt to drag us ever deeper into their Brexit quagmire.”