‘Voodoo’ pet remedies face clampdown
By politics.co.uk staff Homeopathic remedies to your pets ailments are set to be heavily targeted under government plans. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is looking to scrutinise products and treatments not cleared by scientific testing which might put pets ‘at risk’. John Fitzgerald, VMO’s director of operations, said: “Some of these products are claiming to […]
Primary schools mull ‘halal-only’ lunches
By Ian Dunt Primary schools in Harrow are considering whether to accept ‘halal-only’ meals on offer from the council’s favoured contractor, in a move which could enrage animal welfare groups. The council, which has faced anger from residents over an existing arrangement which sees secondary schools in the borough receive only halal meat, is currently […]
Cloned meat eaten in UK
By politics.co.uk staff The meat of the offspring of a cloned cow was eaten in the UK last year, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned. As part of a wider inquiry, it found two bulls born in the UK from the embryo of a cloned US cow, one of which had entered the food […]
Public remains against fox hunting
By politics.co.uk staff The majority of the public continues to believe fox hunting would be illegal, a politics.co.uk poll suggests. The straw poll found 3,408 people (38%) believe fox hunting should become legal, against 5,450 (62%) who believe it should remain illegal. Take the politics.co.uk poll Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other […]
Hunting vote not whipped
By politics.co.uk staff The government will not whip MPs to repeal the ban on hunting. Despite overturning the Hunting Act being a Tory manifesto commitment, David Cameron is reported to be willing to upset his right wing on the issue to keep his Liberal Democrat coalition partners on board. The Financial Times reports that the […]
Analysis: Muzzling the dangerous dogs debate
Britain’s obsession with pets notwithstanding, some dogs’ bites are worse than their barks. By Alex Stevenson Figures provided by the Conservatives show that 100 people are being hospitalised every week because of dog attacks. Convictions for people allowing out-of-control dogs to injure others have more than doubled under Labour. There’s no doubt it’s a problem […]
Audio: Dog attack MP tells her story
Listen to dog attack victim Betty Williams, Labour’s MP for Conwy, describe the moment she was bitten by a Rottweiler – and criticises the government’s proposals on dangerous dogs: ‘Dog Asbos’ for dangerous pets
Dangerous dog attacks on the rise
By Alex Stevenson Over 100 people are hospitalised every week because of dog attacks, new figures have revealed. The Conservatives established that the total number of cases of people being sent to hospital because of dog attacks rose from 5,221 in 2009, a significant increase from the 3,079 cases reported in 1997/98. Convictions have increased […]
Dog attack MP rejects control proposals
By Alex Stevenson A Labour backbencher scarred for life by a Rottweiler attack last year has said the government’s proposals on strengthening dangerous dog legislation do not go far enough. Conwy MP Betty Williams has been “disfigured for life” after she was bitten by a “beast of a dog” in her local park last September. […]
‘Dog Asbos’ for dangerous pets
By Alex Stevenson The government is proposing to give police and councils the power to impose ‘dog control notices’ as part of a crackdown on dangerous dogs, but a prominent backbencher has criticised the proposals for not going far enough. Environment secretary Hilary Benn said growing public concern about dog attacks was a “serious issue […]
