logo
Carrying chickens by legs causes them pain, Green Party leader warns

Carrying chickens by legs causes them pain, Green Party leader warns

Glasgow Times17-07-2025
The Government has planned to overturn an EU ban on catching and carrying poultry by their legs.
But Green Party co-leader Mr Ramsay has called for animal welfare standards to be 'improved, not stripped back', as he urged ministers to halt their plans.
He has tabled a 'prayer motion', calling for the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 to be 'annulled' before they come into force next week.
The regulations set out that farmers will be able to catch and carry turkeys weighing 5kg or less and chickens by both legs, but not by one leg.
Adrian Ramsay has called for animal welfare standards to be 'improved, not stripped back' (PA)
The existing ban 'does not reflect long-standing policy on appropriate methods of 'catching' chickens set out in GB statutory guidance', according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Ministers' decision to change the law followed a consultation throughout Great Britain, which found 40% of respondents supported two-leg catching.
The majority of these were 'poultry industry stakeholders' who 'did not consider two-leg catching to be directly detrimental to bird welfare'.
Some industry stakeholders also 'confirmed that young turkeys (weighing 5kg or less) are routinely caught by two legs, while older heavier turkeys (weighing more than 5kg) are routinely caught upright, by a range of different methods'.
But Mr Ramsay told the PA news agency: 'The Government's attempt to quietly weaken animal welfare standards for poultry is deeply troubling.
'After Defra cited this practice in its guidance, ministers are now attempting to restore outdated industry practices in law.
'Allowing chickens to be carried upside down by their legs causes injury, pain and unnecessary distress.
'I want our animal protection laws to be improved, not stripped back further.
'If handling methods widely used on farms don't meet welfare standards, then they need to be improved, not made legal because enforcement has failed.'
His motion has received cross-party backing, including from Conservative MP for Brigg and Immingham Martin Vickers, his running mate in this year's Green Party leadership election Ellie Chowns, and Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran Irene Campbell.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland
Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

South Wales Argus

time2 hours ago

  • South Wales Argus

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

Mr Trump drew crowds to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening as Air Force One touched down ahead of a four-day visit that will also take him to the club his family owns in Aberdeenshire. With a meeting scheduled with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer understood to be making the trip north on Monday, Mr Trump – a well-known golf enthusiast – appears to be free to play the vaunted Turnberry course on Saturday. The president is expected to leave Scotland on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA) But elsewhere, Scots will be protesting against the visit. The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations in Edinburgh – near the American consulate in the Scottish capital – and another in Aberdeen in the days before his visit there. As he landed in Ayrshire on Friday, the president took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', who is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. US President Donald Trump's motorcade on the A77 in Maybole, South Ayrshire (Robert Perry/PA) Saturday will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. First Minister John Swinney – who is also set to meet with the president during his time in Scotland – has urged Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'.

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland
Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

Glasgow Times

time2 hours ago

  • Glasgow Times

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

Mr Trump drew crowds to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening as Air Force One touched down ahead of a four-day visit that will also take him to the club his family owns in Aberdeenshire. With a meeting scheduled with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer understood to be making the trip north on Monday, Mr Trump – a well-known golf enthusiast – appears to be free to play the vaunted Turnberry course on Saturday. The president is expected to leave Scotland on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA) But elsewhere, Scots will be protesting against the visit. The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations in Edinburgh – near the American consulate in the Scottish capital – and another in Aberdeen in the days before his visit there. As he landed in Ayrshire on Friday, the president took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', who is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. US President Donald Trump's motorcade on the A77 in Maybole, South Ayrshire (Robert Perry/PA) Saturday will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. First Minister John Swinney – who is also set to meet with the president during his time in Scotland – has urged Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'.

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland
Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

Western Telegraph

time2 hours ago

  • Western Telegraph

Trump expected to hit the golf course on first day in Scotland

Mr Trump drew crowds to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening as Air Force One touched down ahead of a four-day visit that will also take him to the club his family owns in Aberdeenshire. With a meeting scheduled with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer understood to be making the trip north on Monday, Mr Trump – a well-known golf enthusiast – appears to be free to play the vaunted Turnberry course on Saturday. The president is expected to leave Scotland on Tuesday (Jane Barlow/PA) But elsewhere, Scots will be protesting against the visit. The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations in Edinburgh – near the American consulate in the Scottish capital – and another in Aberdeen in the days before his visit there. As he landed in Ayrshire on Friday, the president took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', who is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. US President Donald Trump's motorcade on the A77 in Maybole, South Ayrshire (Robert Perry/PA) Saturday will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. First Minister John Swinney – who is also set to meet with the president during his time in Scotland – has urged Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store