Dear John,

With a new government in power in the UK, it is vital that we ensure it takes immediate and decisive action to demonstrate its commitment to nature recovery and wild animal welfare.

During the election campaign, Steve Reed MP, who is now Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:

“For too long, too many animals, including the world's most endangered species, have been left to suffer in silence. The Conservatives are on the side of animal cruelty. Labour will end it. The next Labour government will introduce the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation to end animal cruelty…”

However, as yet, we have seen very little in the way of detail on how the government intends to make good on these promises.

The UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries. Vast numbers of wild animals continue to suffer here in the UK through cruel and destructive management practices, persecution in the name of culture or tradition, and in poorly-regulated captive environments.

This situation must be urgently remedied.

Born Free Co-Founders Dame Virginia McKenna DBE and Will Travers OBE are sending an open letter to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, laying out in clear terms the action his government must take to improve the lives of wild animals and protect nature, in the UK and around the world.

The letter calls on the government to fulfil its manifesto commitments to ban trail hunting and the use of snares, end the cruel and ineffective badger cull, and end the import of vile hunting trophies – but also goes further by outlining the wider measures that are needed to end animal suffering.

It urges the government to appoint dedicated Commissioners for Nature and Animal Welfare at Cabinet level, to coordinate work across all government departments for the benefit of wildlife.

It also proposes the formation of a Nature Security Council, bringing together experts from outside of government to take innovative thinking to the corridors of power, and address the current crisis threatening all life on earth.

Thank you for your support, and for speaking up for nature and wild animals. Together, we will make change happen.

The Born Free Team

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