ADI calls for Government action as Conservative MP defies public and blocks circus ban
Circus bill blocked for 5th time by Christopher Chope MP
ADI has called on the Government to do more to pass the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, which has today been blocked by a Conservative MP for a fifth time. This latest setback was dealt by Christopher Chope MP who has previously blocked the Bill, which would ban the use of wild animal in circuses and has enormous public support.
The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill was introduced on 3rd September and seeks to secure the ban promised by Government in 2012 ahead of the General Election, to ensure that its proposed implementation date of December 2015 is met. The ban enjoys cross-party support as well as that of the public and animal protection groups.
Christopher Chope MP stated that he blocked the bill on its last reading because he believes that it should be “debated properly”. However, the issue has been debated at length, leading to a unanimous vote to ban wild animal acts in 2011. ADI wrote to Chope to advise that Jim Fitzpatrick’s circus Bill shares the exact wording of the Government’s draft circus Bill, which has been considered by the Government’s EFRA committee. Were the Bill allowed to pass, it would be scrutinised line by line. Before objecting to the circus Bill, Chope allowed an undebated Bill to pass. Conservative MPs Andrew Rosindell and Phillip Davies have also blocked the circus Bill on previous occasions.
ADI considers that the Bill put forward by former Defra Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP provides the best opportunity to secure the ban. It will be put forward again for a second reading on November 28th.
The Government reiterated last month its support for a ban, with William Hague stating “we want to legislate on this matter” and the Prime Minister previously pledged to ban what he calls an “outdated practice”. Despite repeated promises, little progress has been made.
Britain is lagging behind 28 countries worldwide that have introduced prohibitions on animal circus acts. Just recently, Malta passed into law a ban on all animal acts, having published its draft legislation after a public consultation which, like Britain, found that 94% backed a ban last year. Over 200 local authorities in the UK also have bans on the use of animals in circuses on public land. Public attitudes have changed and the appetite for wild animal circus acts has plummeted, with only two circuses performing with wild animals in Britain today.
Take action!
- Please join us in urging the Government to back the bill at its next reading on November 28th. SIGN & SHARE OUR PETITION
- See how it should be done! Watch how the ban in Bolivia was won and the animals freed from the circus. Join us at the Gala Screening of Lion Ark on December 6th
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Time for change, using animals in circuses is outdated, cruel and unnecessary
Please will someone stand up for all the animals in circuses? They are treated so badly under feed, beaten, poked & prodded. They should be in the wild where they belong
It is just crazy that in this day and age there should be wild animals suffering in circuses. Let’s not beat around the bush – they DO suffer. It is not entertainment and it is certainly not educational to see wild animals doing ridiculous tricks for which they have been beaten into submission in order to perform!
Please make this cruel torture a thing of the past!
Please make this cruel torture a thing of the past!!
Circuses are slavery for animals!!! WRONG!!
Why is Britain becoming a backword thinking country that can’t see the days of having animals in a circus is long gone.Why can’t we go to a all people circus other countrys can see the crualty why can’t we
Stop the cruelty! You are so behind the times, you are acting like a third world country who doesn’t know any better! ?
I want them free
What if you had to perform using pain against your will?
very cruel
Why hasn’t this archaic, Victorian-age stupidity been stopped yet?!
Stop wild animals performing in circus’s….It is barbaric and must be stopped!!!!!!!!!!!
please have some compassion for these animals that cannot speak for themselves and are used for foolish entertainment!
Show these animals some dignity & respect and BAN animal circuses……this is ridiculous in this day and age…..nobody wants to see wild animals being beaten into submission for so called entertainment.
Disgusting
So cruel – stop it now
No intelligent person would oppose this bill
As a British citizen living abroad I read and wonder whatever happened to that country where I grew up and was taught to love and respect all animals, both wild and domestic? Nowadays newspapers are full of stories about animal cruelty, being abandoned, badger culls, return of fox hunting, dog and cock fighting etc.etc.etc. I don’t recognize England as being the same at all.
Are people in a circus under any sort of force to do their act’s? No are they beaten?NO THEN WHY SHOULD WILD ANIMALS.THIS HAS TO STOP NOW
TIME TO MOVE FORWARD THE CIRCUS INDUSTRY MUST MOVE WITH THE TIMES AND WE THE PUBLIC WILL SUPPORT THEM AGAIN NO WILD OR DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN THE CIRCUS RING PLEASE OR THEY WILL OUT DATE THEMSELFS