Russian propaganda links Kyiv, Washington to Raisi's helicopter crash death

May 20, 2024

Russian propagandists (Photo:NV collage)

Russian propagandists are attempting to spin a narrative alleging the involvement of Ukraine and the United States in the accident, following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the crash of a Mi-171 helicopter on May 19.

However, the guidelines suggest not overdoing it, limiting themselves to hints that allow the audience to draw the "right" conclusions.

For example, RT's Margarita Simonyan drew parallels between Raisi's death, the recent assassination attempt on pro-Kremlin Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and the assassinations of U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1963) and Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme (1986).

"Sh*t happens. But it happens most reliably with careful professional preparation by the sh*tmasters," she wrote on social media.

Read also:

 Ukrainian political scientist links attempt on Fico to swift emergence of Russian propaganda narratives

Russian State Duma member and Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky extended this conspiracy chain, adding another link.

Photo: Screenshot/t.me

"A number of May events, including the assassination attempts on the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, are being lined up in a certain chain of 'tragic coincidences.' We cannot rule out any versions here," he said, commenting on the Mi-171 crash.

Simonyan's colleague Yevgeniy Popov called the Russian helicopter one of the "most reliable in the world."

Read also:

 Top Russian propagandist Skabeyeva admits to spreading propaganda for pay

"I would not be surprised at all if the crash was the result of an attack on the Iranian president," he said.

Meanwhile, "political scientist" Sergei Markov alleged that edits to the Wikipedia article on the Iranian president indicate the intelligence services of Ukraine, the United States, and Israel were behind the crash.

Photo: Screenshot/t.me

The crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi

The crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was reported by the media on May 19.

Read also:

 EU agrees to ban several Russian propaganda outlets

He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan province, and other officials.

Ten people died in the helicopter crash: three crew members and seven passengers, including Raisi, his bodyguards, and other officials.

DRC army says it stopped attempted coup involving US citizens

BY ANGE KASONGO AND SONIA ROLLEY - 20 May 2024 -

A man in military fatigues speaks as others stand next to him inside the Palace of the Nation during an attempted coup in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 19, 2024 in this screen grab from a social media video.

Image: Christian Malanga/Handout via REUTERS

The leader of an attempted coup on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been killed and some 50 people including three American citizens arrested, a spokesperson for the Central African country's army told Reuters.

Gunfire rang out around 4am in the capital Kinshasa, a Reuters reporter said. Armed men attacked the presidency in the city centre, according to spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge.

Another attack took place at the nearby home of Vital Kamerhe, a MP who is tipped to become speaker, Kamerhe's spokesperson, Michel Moto Muhima, and the Japanese ambassador said in posts on X.

Moto Muhima said two guards and an attacker had been killed in that incident. Ekenge also said one attacker was killed there.

A shell fired from Kinshasa hit the city of Brazzaville in neighbouring Republic of Congo, injuring several people, that country's government said in a statement, adding that one person had been hospitalised.

Ekenge named Christian Malanga, a US-based Congolese politician, as the leader of the attempted coup.

“Malanga was definitively neutralised during the attack on the Palais de la Nation, a certain Aboubacar was neutralised during the attack on the residence of Vital Kamarhe the others — around 50 including three American citizens — were arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation by the specialised services of the Armed Forces,” Ekenge told Reuters.

He said Malanga first attempted and aborted a coup in 2017 and that one of the American citizens arrested was Malanga's son.

A Facebook page appearing to belong to Malanga posted a live-streamed video of what appeared to be the attack.

“We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country,” Malanga said in Lingala in the video, which has not been independently verified by Reuters.

US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn said in a post on social media that she was “very concerned” by reports that American citizens had allegedly been involved in the events.

“Please be assured that we will co-operate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any US citizen involved in criminal acts,” she said.

The US embassy had earlier issued a security alert warning of “ongoing activity by DRC security elements” and reports of gunfire in the area.

The United Nations' stabilisation mission in the DRC said that its chief, Bintou Keita, condemned the incidents in the strongest terms and offered her support to the Congolese authorities in a post on X.

Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term as president in December, but has yet to name a government, six weeks after appointing a prime minister.

Kamerhe was a candidate for speaker of parliament in an election that had been scheduled for Saturday but was delayed by Tshisekedi.

Reuters

Green Party overtake Reform UK in polls

Starved of media attention but still doing the business. Not bad, eh!

 by Jack Peat
2024-05-20 



The Green Party has overtaken a resurgent Reform UK in the polls, potentially splitting the Labour vote ahead of the next election.

Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay hailed a “record-breaking” campaign after the party secured its highest amount of elected councillors in the local elections at the start of the month.

The Greens boosted its total number of councillors to 812, after gaining 74 seats at England’s local elections. They also became the biggest party on Bristol City Council – a seat they hope to win at the general election.

Elsewhere, the Greens won their first councillors on Newcastle, Sefton and Redditch councils, and became the largest party on Hastings Borough Council as well as boasting big numbers on councils including East Hertfordshire, Babergh, East Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, Lewes, Folkestone and Hythe and the Forest of Dean.

Denyer said she was “really pleased” the party had again boosted its total number of councillors, for the fifth election in a row.

She said her party had capitalised on disappointment from Labour voters over its U-turn on green investment, as well as its position on public ownership of public services.

She also said they had picked up votes from Labour voters who were unhappy with its stance on Gaza.

According to the latest Ipsos poll, the Labour Party maintains a healthy lead over the Tories, but has fallen back by three points on 41 per cent of the vote.


The Greens have ticked up two points, jumping past Reform UK which drops four points to nine per cent of the vote.

Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives, meanwhile, remain in a perilous position with just 20 per cent of the vote share.

BRITAINS BUMPER CARS

Self-driving cars on roads ‘as soon as 2026’ as Bill becomes law

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the deployment of the vehicles will be ‘a real boost to both safety and our economy’.

SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES COULD BE USED ON BRITAIN’S ROADS IN JUST TWO YEARS, A CABINET MINISTER CLAIMED (STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA)

NEIL LANCEFIELD

MAY 20, 2024

Self-driving vehicles could be used on Britain’s roads in just two years, a Cabinet minister claimed, as a Bill outlining the legal framework for autonomous vehicles became law.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the deployment of the technology will be “a real boost to both safety and our economy”.

The Automated Vehicles Bill received royal assent on Monday.

Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution

MARK HARPER, TRANSPORT SECRETARY

The legislation, which applies across Britain, delivers “the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide”, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

It means motorists will not be held responsible for the action of a vehicle in self-driving mode, with businesses such as insurers, manufacturers and software developers liable when something goes wrong.

The DfT added that self-driving vehicles must achieve a level of safety at least as high as “careful and competent human drivers”.

Trials of autonomous vehicle technology are ongoing across the UK, such as by Wayve in London and Oxa in Oxford.

Mr Harper said: “Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution, and this new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry which has the potential to change the way we travel forever.

“While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our landmark legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.”

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “This is a watershed moment for UK automotive innovation and road safety in the UK.

“Self-driving vehicles will revolutionise our society, and this new law will help turn ambition into reality, putting the UK alongside a handful of other global markets that already have their regulatory frameworks in place.

“The industry will continue its close collaboration with government and other stakeholders to develop the necessary secondary legislation that will enable the safe and responsible commercial roll out of self-driving vehicles and the significant social and economic benefits they will afford the UK.”

Rolls-Royce SMR partners with University of Sheffield in new manufacturing and testing facility

Rolls-Royce SMR is partnering with the University of Sheffield to launch a major new manufacturing and testing facility in South Yorkshire.

20 May 2024

The University of Sheffield AMRC's Factory 2050

The University of Sheffield and Rolls-Royce SMR are setting up a multi-million pound manufacturing and testing facility in South Yorkshire

Based in the University of Sheffield AMRC’s Factory 2050, the new facility will produce prototype modules for small modular reactors (SMRs)

New facility will help de-risk and underpin the Rolls-Royce SMR programme that aims to deploy a fleet of factory-built nuclear power plants in the UK and across the world

SMRs are seen as a clean energy source that are easier to scale and more affordable than building larger nuclear power plants. Each Rolls-Royce SMR could provide enough low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years

Rolls-Royce SMR is partnering with the University of Sheffield to launch a major new manufacturing and testing facility in South Yorkshire.

The Rolls-Royce SMR Module Development Facility (MDF), which will be housed in the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s existing Factory 2050, is set to manufacture and test prototype modules for small modular reactors (SMRs)

The first phase, announced today, is worth £2.7 million and will be part of a wider £15+ million package of work that will further de-risk and underpin the Rolls-Royce SMR programme.

SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that are designed to be factory-built and transported to operational sites for installation. The technology is seen as a clean energy solution that is easier to deliver, scale and is more affordable than building new larger nuclear power stations. Each Rolls-Royce SMR could provide enough low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years.

The new facility at the University of Sheffield AMRC will produce working prototypes of individual modules that will be assembled into Rolls-Royce SMR power plants.

The Rolls-Royce SMR programme is UK’s first home-grown nuclear technology for over a generation and today’s announcement is another vital step towards deploying a fleet of factory-built nuclear power plants in the UK and around the globe.

Victoria Scott, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Chief Manufacturing Engineer, said: “Our investment in setting up this facility and building prototype modules is another significant milestone for our business.

“Our factories will produce hundreds of prefabricated and pre-tested modules ready for assembly on site. This facility will allow us to refine our production, testing and digital approach to manufacturing - helping de-risk our programme and ensure we increase our delivery certainty.”

Rolls-Royce SMR factories will produce hundreds of prefabricated and pre-tested modules ready for assembly on site into a complete nuclear power plant.

The University of Sheffield is one of the UK’s leading universities for clean energy research and innovation. Its AMRC, on the border of Sheffield and Rotherham, is a world leader in manufacturing R&D and works with companies of all sizes — including SMEs, start-ups and large-scale manufacturers — to help them improve their productivity.

The AMRC’s Factory 2050 is the UK’s first state-of-the-art factory with reconfigurable spaces to enable collaborative research into digital manufacturing, machining technologies and component manufacture.

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “We are very proud that Rolls-Royce SMR has chosen to base its module development facility at our Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s Factory 2050.

“Today’s announcement is a testament to the University’s strengths in clean energy research and innovation, and our unrivalled expertise in developing leading-edge manufacturing techniques. We welcome this significant commitment from Rolls-Royce SMR to our ongoing partnership and the South Yorkshire region.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “This announcement cements South Yorkshire’s position as the leading place to build small modular reactors, a cutting-edge technology which will be a key part of the global transition to clean energy. It is also a sign of real confidence in our region’s world-leading advanced manufacturing innovation district which is helping us to create a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire.

“South Yorkshire is proud to be the home of the largest Clean Tech cluster in the UK, with specialisms in nuclear tech, hydrogen and aviation fuels. Being chosen as the home of the new Rolls-Royce SMR Module Development Facility further enhances our region’s reputation as the best place for Clean Tech in the UK and puts us at the forefront of creating a greener future for the UK and beyond.”

UK

Strikes at nuclear naval bases loom as 600 workers balloted

The members are employed by Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd who undertake 'specialist services' for the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines.

Strike threat: Unite the Union members at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases on the River Clyde will be balloted on industrial action.

Matthew Fulton

Potential strikes at Scotland’s biggest nuclear naval bases are looming with 600 workers balloted for industrial action.

Unite the Union confirmed on Monday that its members at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases on the River Clyde will be balloted on industrial action amid an ongoing dispute over pay.

The members are employed by Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd who undertake “specialist services” for the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines.

A pay offer amounting to a 7% increase backdated to August 2023, and 3% for the next pay round effective from August this year was rejected by 99% of members.

Unite said the offer represents a “substantial pay cut” in line with inflation, and a ballot for action at the bases will close on June 11.

MOD

Unite claims Babcock Marine made nearly £45m in profit after tax over the 2018 to 2022.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s membership at Coulport and Faslane fully deserve a fair pay increase.

“Babcock Marine is a wealthy company that can easily afford to make a decent offer to its workers.

“Pay offers which in real terms amount to sizeable pay cuts, just won’t cut it. We will support our members’ fight for better jobs, pay and conditions all the way.”

Unite claims Babcock made nearly £45m in profit after tax over the 2018 to 2022 period.

James O’Connell, Unite industrial officer, added: “Babcock Marine need to get serious about its pay offer or face significant disruption as a result of industrial action.

“Babcock Marine must take the opportunity to make a decent offer, but they should be under no illusions as to the determination of our members to get what they deserve.”

Babcock Marine was awarded a contract in March 2021 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide services for the nuclear weapon system at Coulport.

The Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) is estimated to be worth around £3.5bn and is due to run until March 2026.

The programme includes UK naval base operations at HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport.

A spokesperson for Babcock Marine said: “We are disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement at this stage, however, we remain committed to ongoing engagement with Unite representatives to find a mutually acceptable resolution.”

WORKERS CAPITAL

Pressure put on £3bn pension fund to exit from investment in wind farm company

The discontent surrounds plans for two new electricity pylon routes in a part of rural Wales where grid insfrastructure is lacking


Richard Youle

Local Democracy Reporter

20 MAY 2024

The Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire (Image: Aled Roberts)

A £3 billion public sector pension fund is to consider withdrawing or withholding investment in an energy company whose subsidiary wants to build two lines of controversial electricity pylons in Mid Wales. In an unusual move, Carmarthenshire councillor Alun Lenny - a member of Dyfed Pension Fund board - asked his board colleagues to put the proposal to a committee whose role includes approving the pension's funding strategy.

Cllr Lenny said the prospect of first one and then two lines of pylons connecting planned wind farms near Llandrindrod Wells and Lampeter dozens of miles away to a substation near Carmarthen had caused a public uproar. People, he said, wanted the cables buried underground to protect the landscape.

Cllr Lenny - the council's Plaid Cymru cabinet member for resources - wrote to the pension fund board ahead of its meeting saying the council would not normally correspond in this manner but that on this occasion there was "a particular need to".

Addressing the board, Cllr Lenny said an umbrella pension group of which Dyfed Pension Fund is a member - called Wales Pension Partnership - had agreed to invest £68 million in a company called Bute Energy. This company wants to build wind farms in Wales, with its subsidiary Green GEN Cymru behind plans to build the two pylon routes through an area of Wales known to lack grid infrastructure. Cllr Lenny said Wales Pension Partnership's £68 million investment decision pre-dated the publication by Green GEN Cymru of its proposed Towy Usk pylon route and, more latterly, its more westerly Teifi Usk one, both of which run through Carmarthenshire.

He said the council was creating a 16-mile cycle route in the Towy Valley and that the Towy Usk pylon proposal would, in its view, cause "significant damage to the landscape" and seriously conflict with the cycle path project. For this reason, and also as owners of farms in the proposed path of the pylons, Cllr Lenny said the council supported residents and businesses' concerns regarding the pylons. "To 'underground' the cables would remove objections overnight," he said.

Dyfed Pension Fund has thousands of members who work for 50-odd organisations in Mid and West Wales. Like many pension funds it has faced pressure to divest from fossil fuel companies, and it has committed to move its investments to low-carbon ones due to what a board report described as the "systemic risk to the overall stability of every economy and country" posed by climate change. Carmarthenshire Council, meanwhile, is committed to becoming "net zero" by 2030.

It emerged this week that the council is among the landowners which haven't allowed Green GEN Cymru surveyors or their representatives onto their land. Cllr Lenny said it was valid to press Green GEN Cymru on whether it had properly explored the costs of undergrounding by a method called cable ploughing, which a company in Carmarthenshire specialises in.

His approved resolution calls on the pension fund committee, which meets next month, to consider whether there is cause or opportunity to withdraw or withhold the investment in Bute Energy. The committee will also be asked if it's possible to engage with Bute Energy or its Green GEN Cymru subsidiary to ensure a "full and propoer evaluation" of cable ploughing costs.

The Welsh Government wants electricity to be fully decarbonised by 2035 - up from around 55% currently - which would require a big increase in renewable energy from wind and solar farms.

Bute Energy said it was proud of the £68 million Wales Pension Partnership investment, adding that the funding wasn't being allocated to Green GEN Cymru. A Bute Energy spokesman said: "Our partnership with the Wales Pension Partnership means that members of the local Government pension scheme will benefit from Bute Energy’s success, contributing to our mission to keep as much of our investment in Wales as possible, for the benefit of its people and communities."

He added: "The Wales Pension Partnership's investment demonstrates that it is possible to achieve financial returns for its members while also advancing social and environmental goals. Through our partnership, the Wales Pension Partnership is making a vital contribution to the Welsh Government's climate strategy, its targets on local and shared ownership of renewable energy projects, and its vision for a greener Wales."

Green GEN Cymru has previously said that the existing grid in Mid Wales did not have nearly enough capacity to connect all the new renewable energy needed in the future and that, on balance, overhead lines were considered the best overal solution. It claimed that burying cables underground was six to 10 times more expensive. The company said a section of the planned Towy Usk route would include a section of buried cables where it crossed the River Towy, and that it was awaiting further information from the Carmarthenshire-based cable ploughing company to see if its technology would be suitable for the project. Speaking earlier this week, a Green GEN Cymru spokesman said: "We have always been open to underground cabling where it may be appropriate to reduce the project's effects without affecting its viable delivery."

Meanwhile, a pylon campaign group called Carmarthenshire Residents Action Group has welcomed the step taken this week by Dyfed Pension Board. Group spokesman Havard Hughes said: "Residents are delighted to see the letter by Cllr Alun Lenny to the chairman of the Dyfed Pension Fund board echoing many of the concerns raised by residents."

 SCI-FI-TEK

UKAEA renews engineering framework agreement to boost fusion

Four-year Engineering Design Services Framework is renewed with nine companies.

From:

UK Atomic Energy Authority

Published

20 May 2024

Representatives from UKAEA and companies supporting the Engineering Design Services Framework, at UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Facility in Rotherham - Image credit UK Atomic Energy Authority

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has renewed its multimillion-pound Engineering Design Services Framework (“the Framework”) with nine companies. The renewal is based on a successful four-year delivery of various engineering and design desk-based projects.

The Framework, with a value up to £9m, supports the development of a UK industrial supply chain capability by allowing the companies to work closely with UKAEA as it undertakes fusion energy research.

It is vital in the mission to develop commercial fusion energy, while also helping to grow the UK economy by ensuring industry are fully involved.

Colette Broadwith, Strategic Procurement Business Partner for UKAEA, said: “This framework has enabled UKAEA to work collaboratively and with maximum efficiency with the fusion supply chain.

“By renewing it for another four years, UKAEA can continue to leverage the engineering and technical expertise of our industrial partners to help accelerate fusion energy’s commercialisation, for the benefit of all.

There will be continued opportunities for suppliers to collaborate with each other, and crucially to utilise their supply chain on many of their initiatives.

The framework features companies with expertise in some, or all of the following disciplines:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Electrical, Control & Instrumentation Engineering
• Computer Based Modelling
• Specialist Nuclear Services

Successes from the last four years include work on the following:

• Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP): Tritium transport and parametric breeder blanket modelling development, shielding concept design, heat transfer enhancement assessments and liquid metal armour design assessments.
• Coolant flow loops: In-vessel component prototype verification, corrosion experiments, magnetohydrodynamic experiments and liquid metal technology assessment, research and development.
• Breeder blanket concept designs: Development of example breeder blanket concepts focussed on maximising different high level requirements.
• Joint European Torus (JET): Preliminary design of JET’s graphite main processing system and ancillary systems for cutting divertor coils in the JET tokamak.
• Fusion Innovation Challenge: A pilot project to tackle some of fusion energy’s most complex challenges. Click here to read the full article.

The companies which are part of the renewed framework are: Assystem, AtkinsRealis, Demcon, Eadon, Frazer Nash, IDOM, Jacobs, M5tec and Optima.

 UK

Export of live animals banned

Legislation ending exports of livestock for slaughter and fattening receives Royal Assent

From:

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP

Published

20 May 2024

A new ban on exporting live animals came into law today (Monday 20 May) as the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act received Royal Assent, capitalising on a post-Brexit freedoms and bolstering the UK’s position as a world leader in animal welfare standards.

The legislation delivers on a key manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain.

It is only possible now the UK has left the European Union, and will stop animals enduring stress, exhaustion and injury on long and unnecessary export journeys.

The Act will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically in high welfare UK slaughterhouses, reinforcing our position as a nation of animal lovers and a world leader on animal welfare, boosting the value of British meat and helping to grow the economy.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

“Our new Act makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to deliver one of our manifesto commitments and strengthen these standards even further by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.”

Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, said:

“After more than 50 years of campaigning, we are absolutely thrilled to see that live export of animals has been banned from Great Britain. This means British animals will no longer be sent on gruelling journeys abroad for further fattening and slaughter in cramped and poor conditions with little or no access to food or water.

“As one of the first countries in the world to abolish this practice, this vital step for animal welfare sends an important message globally and we hope to see other countries follow suit soon.

“As we mark our 200th anniversary as a charity and look to the future of animal welfare, it’s great to see this outdated practice is finally consigned to the past. This ban marks a huge step forward for animal welfare and further shows that we are a nation of animal lovers - who care for every kind. We’d like to say thank you to all our supporters, all those who have campaigned on this issue, and to the UK Government for making this milestone moment for animals happen.”

Philip Lymbery, Global CEO at Compassion in World Farming said:

“This is a day to truly celebrate! We are delighted that this legislation has passed through both Houses of Parliament with cross party support. And we commend the Government on delivering on this hugely important promise. This long-awaited law will ensure that Britain will never return to the dark days of exporting up to 2.5 million sheep and calves annually to Europe or beyond for slaughter or fattening.

“Compassion in World Farming and its dedicated supporters have been campaigning to ban live exports for over 50 years. To finally see this cruel practice brought to an end is momentous for animal welfare and a day that will be celebrated for decades to come!”

Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive said:

“Today is a defining moment in our nearly century-long and founding campaign. The passage of this law ensures that no horse, pony or donkey will legally be exported from Great Britain for slaughter and while this is a monumental step forward, plenty more needs to be achieved to effectively combat the illegal export of equines from the country.

“This will rely on the new law being effectively enforced and the introduction of full traceability of all equines, and we look forward to working with Defra to achieve this.”

As the highest ranked G7 nation according to World Animal Protection’s Index, the Government is committed to high animal welfare standards and ensuring all animals are treated well at all stages of life. We have been clear that animals should only be transported when necessary, and if possible should not travel long distances to be slaughtered.

Live exports in other specific circumstances, for example, for breeding and competitions, will still be allowed provided animals are transported in line with legal requirements which protect their welfare. The legislation follows a consultation on ending live animal exports in which 87% of respondents agreed that livestock should not be exported for slaughter and fattening.

This Bill also follows a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening.  Enabling regulations will be made as soon as possible to bring the ban into force.

The Act is just one part of a wider Government effort to enhance our existing world-leading standards. For farm animals, we have introduced new statutory welfare codes for pigs, laying hens and meat chickens, banned the use of conventional battery cages for laying hens and made CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses. 

Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, we have brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, announced an extension of the ivory ban to cover other ivory bearing species, supported legislation to ban glue traps and the import of detached shark fins, and introduced measures to ban the advertising and offering for sale of low welfare activities abroad.

We have also achieved our commitment to deliver the Kept Animals Bill measures individually, with all of the measures that require legislation back before Parliament and the pets as primate restrictions already law.

Further information:

Kept Animals Bill measures are:

• The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act – which is only possible now we have left the European Union – will put an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, stopping animals enduring stress, exhaustion and injury on long and unnecessary export journeys.   The full list of animals covered by the Bill is: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.
• The Pet Abduction Bill – which has government support - will create a new specific offence to tackle dog and cat abduction.
• The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill – also supported by government – which will introduce tougher powers to tackle illegal cat and dog smuggling.
• The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill – also supported by government -  will introduce tougher powers to tackle livestock worrying incidents.
• We have delivered new legislation protecting primates, which will bring in a strict licensing scheme to ensure that only private keepers who meet new welfare and licensing standards will be able to keep primates.