Government failing the British public as it allows circus ban to falter
The popular bill to bring an end to the use of wild animals in British circuses – a move promised but not acted upon by Government – has been blocked again by Conservative MP Christopher Chope.
The popular bill to bring an end to the use of wild animals in British circuses – a move promised but not acted upon by Government – has today been blocked, yet again, by Conservative MP Christopher Chope. The latest setback in efforts to pass the legislation announced to media fanfare three years ago comes just 48 hours after an ADI delegation delivered a 20,000-strong petition calling on David Cameron to keep his promise and ensure the ban is passed before the election.
It is both illogical and unbelievable that this simple measure has still to pass and by allowing the ongoing saga to continue the Government is making a mockery of the political system and failing the British public, many of whom believe this archaic practice was banned years ago.
Despite repeated promises and David Cameron personally stating to an ADI delegation last April that “We are going to do it” little progress has been made to pass what Cameron calls “an outdated practice”, prompting the bill by Jim Fitzpatrick MP. The backbench bill seeks to bring forward the Government’s draft legislation, published 2 years ago, however it has been repeatedly blocked by three Conservative MPs, with Christopher Chope MP doing so on eight occasions now.
Ahead of bringing in the ban the Government introduced a licensing system – opposed by ADI and other animal groups – as a temporary measure, costing an estimated £135,000/year versus a licence payment by the remaining two circuses still to tour with wild animal acts of less than £400/ year and £72/hour for inspections. Despite being branded in some quarters as a success, inspection reports and licence applications released to ADI under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the regulations are failing the animals. Breaches in licence conditions have been identified as well as omissions in information and a number of welfare issues.
There are now fewer than 20 wild animals made to perform in British circuses – as revealed by ADI last week the only lion and tiger circus act, which attracted widespread criticism and local protests whilst with Peter Jolly’s Circus last year, will not be touring this season – however that is still 20 animals too many and there is a risk that without a ban new wild animal acts could arrive from the continent.
The next Second Reading will take place on Friday 6 March.
We will not and must not give up until the ban is won – please help us stop circus suffering in Britain today.
Take action!
- Contact William Hague MP, Leader of the House of Commons, and ask him to allocate parliamentary time to the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill.
- Contact Prime Minister David Cameron and ask him to fulfil the promise to end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and ensure Parliamentary time is given to the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill.
- Contact your MP– in person if you possibly can! – remember they probably support the Bill, but we need their help: ask them to back the Bill and press the Government to allocate time for it; and ensure their party is committed to a ban in their manifestos
- Make a donation– ADI is securing lasting change for circus animals around the world, help us do more!
- Spread the word – share our posts on facebook and twitter #notgivingup #circusban
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Stop this!! You have promised your people, now do the right thing!!!
What is the matter with you people in authority? You can’t see that this is evil! Who paid you off! I will share this with everyone!! Your full of empty promises!!
Come on. You need to keep your promises before these animals suffer more
no animal or mammal shud be in captivity this day n age.. if the conservatives are blocking it then they just lost my vote
Ban all animals from circuses they need protecting from animal abusers
Please stop this cruelty!!
Stop this cruelty right away in this day & age nobody needs circus for entertainment for gods sake !! You had promised now deliver please! ! Thanks in advance! !
ANIMAL ABUSE AS CIRCUS SUFFERING!
What’s wrong with Chope?!
It defies belief why this ban has not been implemented yet.
Why does one Conservative get to decide when the vast majority of people want it???
Ok Britain. Time to get with the program .
The majority of the public feels that the use
of wild animals for entertainment is just
plain wrong! The days of performing circus
animals is passé . Cirque de Soleil is the
humane and modern way to go . Plus it
employs people!
Stop cruelty! We are in 2015!!!
Please ban this abuse.
This must stop!! Time to wake up and care about the animals!
!
Please do the humane thing and ban these horrid circuses who continually beat,shock,starve and mistreat their animals all in the name of greed. This is severe felony animal abuse. These animals do not deserve their lives of hell. Only you can put an end to their suffering and allow them to live in a nice sanctuary where they will receive the kindness and care they so desperately need. Thank you, Marie Madden,United
States of America
You’re only as good as your word. Lift the ban as you promised. These precious animals we’re created by the same hands that created man!!!!!
I have to pinch myself to wake up! are we in the 21st century? this outdated and abusive form of entertainment still happening in the UK? Sort it out and let’s get this ban as promised forthwith! Thank You!
This government has failed us on SO many things. This is 2015, and people don’t want this to be legal anymore. For the sake of these animals please put this ban in place and just as importantly you need to install CCTV in all UK abattoirs!
Do it now and you’ll get my vote!
Please free the animals and END this abuse – THEIR SUFFERING for HUMAN GREED ! How long must we still pledge for this? Please listen to us and free them. It is so important for the nature.