Scotland for Animals
Scotland for Animals contacted the prospective candidates for this
Thursday's
by-election for their views on animal issues. We had a disappointing response to
say the least with only Independent candidate Mikey Hughes and David Doherty of
the Scottish Greens responding.
the questions we asked were:
Will you
call for a public inquiry into the validity of animal testing?
Will you
call for increased funding for non-animal research methods?
Will you call
for legal changes to ensure that police/ judiciary recognise the link between
animal abuse and violence towards humans, especially women and children and for
lengthy prison sentences to be introduced for crimes against animals to curb
this?
Will you call for the installation of CCTV by law in
slaughterhouses, farming units and all other places where animals are used in
commercial/ research activities in Scotland to ensure that animal welfare
legislation is adhered to?
Will you call for a ban on religious
slaughter?
Will you call for compulsory labelling of religious slaughter
products?
Will you call for the strengthening of the current ban on
hunting with dogs in order that it be properly enforced?
As MP's state
that the largest single issue that constituents contact them about is animal
welfare will you pledge to devote a substantial amount of your time to
introducing or amending legislation to fully protect animals?
We are
deeply concerned with the fact that the vast majority of candidates in this
election have chosen to ignore requests for where they stand on these issues, we
can only assume that animal welfare is low on their list of priorities.
Those who declined to answer are:
Willie Bain- Scottish Labour
Party
David Kerr- Scottish National Party
Ruth Davidson-
Scottish Conservative and Unionist
John Smeaton- Jury Team
Kevin McVey- Scottish Socialist Party
Eileen Baxendale- Scottish
Liberal democrats
Tommy Sheridan- Solidarity
John
Swinburne- Scottish Senior Citizens Party
We would like to
thank Mikey and David for taking the time to reply, here's what they said:
Mikey Hughes;
Hi
Mikey absolutely loves animals!
if you check out my policies you will see I have put lengthy prison
sentences for people cruel to animals.
out of al the candidates I am the most
animal friendly.
certainly the "pussy footed" soft sentences that people
receive for cruelty to animals is not on, and life imprisonment for people cruel
to animals or if you are cruel to animals you receive the same back, would be
good.
I absolutely love animals!
David Doherty;
1.
Will you call for a public inquiry into the validity of animal testing?
Any public inquiry would have to have a more specific nature than investigating
the validity of animal testing in general. I am supportive of inquiries to
prevent animal cruelty in product testing, as well as with the treatment of
caged animals. As animals are capable of feeling suffering, legislation must
reflect this in the treatment, transportation and nourishment of animals in
their lifetime. As an MP I would certainly work for a reduction in the number of
animal experiments.
2. Will you call for increased funding for
non-animal research methods?
Certainly I would work to ensure funding for
university research in general is a top priority, and I would work to increase
funding for non-animal based research. I am opposed to cloning and genetic
engineering of animals, as well as xenotransplantation.
3. Will you call
for legal changes to ensure that police/ judiciary
recognise the link between
animal abuse and violence towards humans,
especially women and children and
for lengthy prison sentences to be
introduced for crimes against animals to
curb this?
The treatment of animals often is a reflection of how our
society treats humans - there are links between animal cruelty and human
violence. I believe that there must be more formal recognition of these links,
and more research is needed to investigate these links. There should also be a
protocol for cross reporting of incidents of human and animal abuse, and an
inclusion of animal welfare or humane education in the national curriculum.
4. Will you call for the installation of CCTV by law in
slaughterhouses,
farming units and all other places where animals are
used in commercial/
research activities in Scotland to ensure that
animal welfare legislation is
adhered to?
Certainly I would support a strong auditing procedure in such
premises to ensure compliance with animal protection legislation, and CCTV
systems could be a measure in larger facilities.
5. Will you call for a
ban on religious slaughter?
Religious slaughter is part of many cultural
practices, and I would not call for a complete ban on slaughter of animals as
part of traditional religious custom. However, the treatment of animals in the
process of slaughter must conform with the highest possible ethical standards
under such circumstances.
6. Will you call for compulsory labelling of
religious slaughter products?
As part of a Green Party policy on the
regulation of animal derived foods, compulsory labelling should identify
religious slaughter products as well as country of origin.
7. Will you
call for the strengthening of the current ban on hunting
with dogs in order
that it be properly enforced?
The present ban on hunting with dogs should be
properly enforced as legislation with more resources committed to the police, as
with other animal crimes.
8. As MP's state that the largest single issue
that constituents
contact them about is animal welfare will you pledge to
devote a
substantial amount of your time to introducing or amending
legislation
to fully protect animals?
There are many wide ranging issues
which the constituents of Glasgow North East face. In particular housing,
unemployment, and fuel poverty are areas where, if elected, I would be devoting
time as an MP. As a committed environmental campaigner, animal welfare is one of
my personal concerns, and as an MP I would work with animal protection agencies
to ensure legislation fully protects animals. This will require a substantial
amount of my time, and the issue of animal treatment is linked to many other
Green issues such as regulation of supermarkets, agricultural and fishery
practices and use of animals in scientific research.
Please always
take what candidates will do for animals into account when you cast your vote.
John
Scotland for Animals
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