Will Starmer’s Brexit Reset Bring Back Cruelty? Experts Warn of a ‘Backward Step’
Animal welfare charities and experts are sounding the alarm over Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset, fearing that his plans to strengthen ties with Europe could come at a severe cost to the UK’s high animal welfare standards. Starmer has made securing a veterinary agreement with the EU his top trade priority as he attempts to reset post-Brexit relations. While such a deal would ease trade barriers by reducing red tape on food exports and imports, critics warn that it could force the UK to align with EU regulations—potentially rolling back hard-won protections for animals.
The concern among animal rights groups is that the UK’s stricter welfare rules—some of which were implemented as a direct result of Brexit—could be undermined. According to reports in the i Paper, government officials could be pressured to reverse the recently implemented ban on live animal exports and abandon plans to prohibit the importation of foie gras—both policies widely seen as key Brexit victories. The government is already facing lobbying from elements of the farming industry, urging ministers to ensure animal welfare protections are not sacrificed in any potential deal.
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Exporting live animals for fattening and slaughter—previously a common practice—was officially banned in the UK as of January, following legislation passed under the previous Conservative government. Labour, too, has committed to banning foie gras, a product condemned for its cruel production process, which involves force-feeding ducks and geese. However, critics fear that re-entering the EU’s veterinary framework may force the UK to compromise on these protections. Brexit expert David Henig, UK director at the European Centre for International Political Economy, cautioned: “There may be exemptions to be negotiated, but then the UK would have to decide what to try. At the very least, it is best to prepare for a maximalist EU position.”
Joël Reland, senior researcher at UK in a Changing Europe, echoed similar concerns, warning that the EU may be reluctant to make concessions. “Trading animals is a massive industry in the EU and so something they might be quite unwilling to compromise on. The EU could say a condition of being in our veterinary area is that animals are allowed to be exported.”
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Former Conservative Environment Secretary Steve Barclay, who played a key role in post-Brexit legislation, has warned that any reversal of the live export ban would be a massive mistake. “Stopping live animal exports reflects the importance we place as a country on animal welfare. It was a change that was supported across political parties and widely supported by the public. Parliament had wanted to make this change sooner but it was frustrated for years by our membership of the EU. It would be a real mistake to allow this out-of-date practice to return.”
Animal rights campaigners are urging Starmer to draw clear red lines in his negotiations with the EU. Peter Stevenson, chief policy adviser at Compassion in World Farming, made a passionate plea: “A lot of people would be appalled at the idea of us having to go back to live animal exports.” He urged the government to ensure that “if you can get this friction-free trading relationship with the EU, that would clearly have many benefits. But we’ve got to say one of our red lines is we are allowed to keep our ban.”
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, also called for urgent safeguards, emphasizing that any deal must not “inadvertently impact on our high health and welfare standards; or prevent the UK from independently raising its animal welfare standards in the future.” He added that the UK should still aim for a future ban on fur and foie gras imports, “with the production of both already banned in the UK.”
With growing pressure from both animal welfare organizations and elements within the government, the stakes for Starmer’s Brexit reset are high. Will the Prime Minister stand firm and protect the UK’s hard-won animal welfare victories, or will he bow to EU demands in pursuit of a smoother trade relationship? The answer could define not just his leadership, but the future of animal welfare in the UK for years to come.
