Adrian Ramsay joins Cats Protection in Parliament to discuss cat welfare
Adrian Ramsay joins Cats Protection in Parliament to discuss cat welfare
Adrian Ramsay MP for Waveney Valley joined fellow MPs and members of the House of Lords this week at a Cats Protection reception to discuss the UK’s most pressing cat welfare issues.
The UK’s leading cat charity hosted the parliamentary reception to raise awareness of many of the issues affecting the UK’s 10.4 million pet cats and the people who care for them.
A key issue raised at the event was exploitative cat breeding practices. According to Cats Protection, 36% of owned cats in the UK are pedigrees, which is up from 23% just five years ago1, and this includes an increasing number of “designer cats” with extreme characteristics like folded ears, flat faces or hairless bodies which will cause them chronic health problems and an extremely poor quality of life.
The charity is calling for a ban on the breeding of these cats with extreme characteristics, as well as a crackdown on sick and suffering cats being sold online and recently delivered a petition with over 60,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street calling for cat breeding regulations.
Other topics raised at the reception included a Cats Protection call to ban electric shock collars and to restrict fireworks to minimize stress to cats while Adrian Ramsay also spoke to the charity’s volunteers and staff about their essential cat rehoming, neutering and education work.
Adrian Ramsay said: “It was a privilege to meet Cats Protection’s volunteers and staff and hear about their vital work rehoming, neutering and caring for cats across the country. Sharing my home with our rescue cat, Bella, I know first-hand the joy that cats bring to families.
The Cats Protection reception was invaluable in shining a light on serious welfare issues still facing cats, from the rise of ‘designer cats’ bred with extreme characteristics that cause lifelong suffering, to the stress caused by fireworks and the cruelty of electric shock collars. I support Cats Protection’s calls for much tighter regulation of cat breeding and ending kitten smuggling, and I’ll continue to back their work to improve the lives of cats up and down the country.”
Madison Rogers, Associate Director of Advocacy, Campaigns and External Affairs said:
“We were delighted to bring MP and Peers together at our parliamentary reception to shine a light on some of the most pressing issues affecting cats today.
“From the urgent need for effective cat breeding regulations to prevent exploitation and suffering, to calls for a ban on electronic shock collars and stronger restrictions on fireworks, it’s clear that more must be done to protect cat welfare.
“Cats Protection is proud to make a difference nationally and in local constituencies through the dedication of our employees and volunteers. We look forward to working closely with parliamentarians to ensure cats and the people who care for them receive the protection and support they deserve.”
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and helps 191,000 cats through a national network of 182 volunteer-run teams and 31 centres.
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Notes to Editors:
Picture of Adrian at the Cats Protection reception & with his Cat bella are avalible for use at this link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fM9VDfgxD748HqyxQrMP8ovC7PhBYkw_?usp=sharing
Cats Protection is Charity No. 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland). A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (06772997). Registered office National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT.
Founded as the Cats Protection League in 1927, the charity adopted the name Cats Protection in 1998. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity in all published material.
More information about the work of Cats Protection can be found at www.cats.org.uk
Adrian Ramsay MP asks the Department for Justice why there is a £2m by-election for the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner when the role will be abolished in 2028.
Adrian Ramsay MP asks the Department for Justice why there is a £2m by-election for the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner when the role will be abolished in 2028.
In a written question to the minister, Adrian asked 'To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to a) remove the requirement for the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner post to be filled, b) provide for the necessary functions of that role to be carried out by the County Council Police and Crime Panel prior to the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner post in 2028, and c) ensure that the Council Police and Crime Panel have the necessary i) support ii) recourses to undertake these additional tasks.'
Adrian added
"Holding a £2m by-election for the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner makes little sense when that role will be abolished in 2028.
I’ve asked the Government to remove the requirement for the role to be filled and to allow the Police and Crime Panel to take over."
Green MP Adrian Ramsay asks the Prime Minister to commit to publishing two vital reports warning that our food and water systems are on course for catastrophic failure.
Green MP Adrian Ramsay asks the Prime Minister to commit to publishing two vital reports warning that our food and water systems are on course for catastrophic failure.
Adrian asked the Prime Minister.
‘A suppressed DEFRA report concluded that, without transformational change, our food and water systems are on course for catastrophic failure from 2030.
Another suppressed Joint Intelligence Committee assessment concluded there is a ‘high likelihood’ of ecosystem collapse, putting food production at risk.
Does the Prime Minister recognise that many of us across the House are committed to working collaboratively to address these urgent challenges - and will he commit to the publication of these two reports in full?’
In response, the Prime Minister said.
‘Well, I agree that we must act to protect ecosystems that underpin our food supply and our way of life, and I’m really proud that under this Government the UK is back playing a leading part on climate change and restoring nature. ’
Reacting to the Prime Minister's response, Adrian said: “I am deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister did not commit to publishing the reports in full.”
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Notes to the editor
The suppressed report, entitled “The status of Defra’s critical systems to 2030 and beyond,” was written by the now-disbanded DEFRA futures civil servant unit for the incoming Government. It warns that there is a realistic possibility that, by 2030, the UK’s food systems, water supplies and natural ecosystems could collapse.
The report is ‘almost certain’ that DEFRA’s critical systems are on a ‘decline and collapse trajectory’, meaning that without transformational change, there is a realistic possibility that by 2030 our food, water and natural ecosystems are at risk of catastrophic collapse with a high degree of confidence.
The report was commissioned to inform the then incoming Government but was not included in ministerial handover briefings.
A separate report, the Joint Intelligence Committee’s National Security Assessment, stated that biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse pose a threat to national security. The report lays out how regional instability throughout the world will affect the UK.
A delayed redacted version of the report was published in January only after a Freedom of Information request from Green Alliance. Adrian Ramsay has repeatedly called for a Commons debate in its contents.
Green MP warns Health Bill could silence patients' voices
Green MP warns Health Bill could silence patients' voices
Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, voices concern over the proposed abolition of independent patient and public voices such as Healthwatch.
Speaking during the Health Bill debate earlier this week, Adrian highlighted concerns from local health groups. He said
“It beggars’ belief that, as currently drafted, the Health Bill abolishes the statutory duty that underpins independent patient and public voice, including the entire network of Local Healthwatch organisations.
“The Bill risks weakening accountability across the health and care system. It removes clear protections for independent scrutiny, including powers to conduct visits to health and social care settings. The Bill fails to specify who will be responsible for maintaining these vital functions in future.
“For more than 50 years, Governments of all stripes have recognised the importance of an independent voice for patients. Organisations such as Healthwatch in Norfolk and Suffolk play a crucial role in ensuring that patients are heard, and services are held to account.
“This bill risks ending that long-standing commitment. The Government must rectify this and guarantee that patients continue to have a strong, independent voice at the heart of our health and care system.”
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Full intervention is available here https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-06-01/debates/A2EAF490-72AB-4F7E-998F-3108BD40F89A/HealthBill - contribution-72F15BB3-2F18-418D-923A-CEF45E2B982E
Green MP forces the Government to acknowledge reports which warn of serious risks to the UK's national security.
Green MP forces the Government to acknowledge reports which warn of serious risks to the UK's national security.
Adrian Ramsay, Green Party MP for Waveney Valley, said.
"While Westminster obsesses over by-elections and leadership contests, a suppressed civil service report warns that within years our food and water systems could fail. I've forced the Government to acknowledge a suppressed report on ecosystem collapse. But Ministers still aren't facing up to the gravity and scale of the crisis."
Adrian Ramsay MP has challenged Ministers in Parliament over two suppressed Government-commissioned reports warning of serious risks to the UK's national security, including ecosystem collapse, biodiversity loss, food security and water supplies.
During the exchange, Adrian highlighted a report revealed byThe Times, produced by DEFRA civil servants, which warned that there is a realistic possibility that by 2030 the UK's food systems, water supplies and natural ecosystems could face collapse. The report was commissioned to inform the then incoming Government but was not included in ministerial handover briefings.
Questioning Ministers in the Chamber, Adrian said:
"Turning to a second report setting out grave risks to our national security, DEFRA civil servants have set out there's a realistic possibility that by 2030 our food, water and natural ecosystems are at risk of collapse. This could not be more stark. An article in The Times states that this was the conclusion of a 2024 report commissioned to inform the new Government, but it was not included in handover briefings. So can the Minister confirm if she has seen this second report, and what action is her department taking to address its stark findings?"
The Minister confirmed that she had not seen the report, although the Farming Minister had.
Adrian challenged the adequacy of that response, saying:
"I'm afraid the Minister's reply does not get to grips with either the scale or the gravity of these issues. The report makes clear that environmental policies on their own will not address the dire nature of these systemic issues. We need transformational change, which is about cross-Government work to address the risks outlined in the reports."
Adrian continued:
"This is not simply an environmental issue. It is a matter of national resilience and security. The systems that provide our food, clean water and healthy natural environment underpin every aspect of our economy and society. When official Government assessments warn that these systems are at risk of collapse, Ministers must respond with a serious cross-government plan.
"I will continue to raise these issues until the Government and Parliament are addressing them with the urgency they demand."
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Notes to the editor
Times article https://www.thetimes.com/article/381266e2-4282-4b0b-ab68-c2beb36fe75c?shareToken=9866f130f6bcc1b627d973b510a762ad
The full question and answer is available here.
https://parliamentlive.tv/Download/Index/733d1ffa-e428-44a7-bb08-44062a48babc
The first report referred to is the Joint Intelligence Committee’s National Security Assessment published in January 2026 which stated that biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse pose a threat to national security. This report was only published after a Freedom of Information request by Green Alliance. Since January, Adrian Ramsay MP has repeatedly called for a debate in Parliament on its findings.
Green Party MP Adrian Ramsay calls for a dedicated Climate Protection Unit in Number 10 in response to government watchdog warning way of life is under threat from heat, flooding and drought
Green Party MP Adrian Ramsay calls for a dedicated Climate Protection Unit in Number 10 in response to government watchdog warning way of life is under threat from heat, flooding and drought
Reacting to the Climate Change Committee (CCC) Report ‘A Well-Adapted UK’ , Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“The most fundamental duty of any government is to keep the public safe, and yet today’s CCC report shows we are sleepwalking towards catastrophe and the government is failing to meet the moment.
“The impacts of the climate and nature emergency are already being felt by communities across the UK, with increased food prices, more severe flooding and dangerous heatwaves. From our food and water supply to daily essential services, continued inaction is putting us all at risk. By 2050, the CCC’s report warns that up to 92% of homes could face overheating, peak river flows could rise by up to 45%, and water supply shortfalls could exceed 5 billion litres a day. Our children will not forgive us if the Government and Parliament fail to take these fundamental risks seriously due to being distracted by current political dramas.
“That is why today I am calling on the Prime Minister to establish a dedicated Climate Protection Unit in Number 10, with the sole purpose of working cross-department to drive forward the recommendations in this report.
“Because this report must mark a turning point. The Government must take concrete steps now to protect people’s lives and ensure our country is properly prepared for the growing risks posed by extreme heat, flooding and food shortages. That means investing in flood defences and nature-based solutions, preparing for extreme heat with a big focus on adapting our homes and workplaces, providing tangible support for farmers to ensure farming remains viable, and urgently adapting our infrastructure to prevent snowballing disruption across every facet of daily life. If ministers fail to take real action and deliver before the next general election, they will knowingly be putting lives at risk. The Government has been handed a plan. It is now vital they deliver it.”
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Adrian Ramsay MP reacts to worrying El Niño news
Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, reacts to today's news that record global temperatures are likely as the chance of a very strong El Niño grows.
Adrian said
"It is becoming increasingly clear that El Niño is stronger than previously expected. While its immediate impacts are being felt across the Pacific, we are likely to feel the consequences here through colder and harsher autumn and winter in the months ahead.
This is not just about the weather. Changing climate patterns will have serious long-term impacts on farming and food security. Warmer and more unstable seasons affect crop yields and growing conditions, all against the backdrop of food inflation already reaching historic highs due to the war in Iran.
The Government must come to Parliament next week and set out clearly how it is preparing for the impact on farmers, our food supply chain and households."
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Green MP and Newly Elected Councilor join residents in Weybread to protest the Cranswick expansion.
Adrian Ramsay MP for Waveney Valley & Cllr Sally Mittuch joined residents in Weybread in a peaceful protest today against plans for a large-scale chicken incubation unit in the village.
The protest will see residents and campaigners gather outside the former Crown Inn to voice concerns over agricultural giant Cranswick’s controversial planning application for a broiler chicken incubation facility.
Campaign group Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF), which has been supporting residents opposing the application, will attend alongside members of the Weybread Community Group.
Campaigners are urging Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee to “Stop the Incubator” and “Save Our Pub”.
Under the plans, The Crown Inn, which has been owned by Cranswick and closed for several years, would be demolished to make way for the factory development. Residents have raised concerns about the long-term loss of an important community asset, alongside worries over increased HGV traffic, industrial activity, pollution and the wider impact on village life.
Adrian Ramsay MP said
“The impact of large-scale factory farm developments on rural communities, like the one proposed in Weybread, is becoming increasingly concerning. These enormous industrial operations are being placed in tiny villages that are just not suitable.
Residents are rightly worried about the impact of three shift working patterns, with significant numbers of HGV movements travelling through small village roads throughout the day and night.
At a time when many rural communities desperately need genuinely affordable housing and investment in local services, people are asking why yet more large-scale industrial facilities are being prioritised over developments that would actually strengthen village life and support local people.
In addition, residents in Weybread are rightly concerned about the pollution impacts of this development and the huge implications of an increasingly industrialised food system for animal welfare."
Cllr Sally Mittuch, newly elected Green Councillor for Hoxne & Eye, said.
“Our community in Weybread has already seen huge changes over the past decade, and many residents feel we are gradually losing the very character of the village we love. People move to places like Weybread because of the countryside, the peace and the strong sense of community, but increasingly those qualities are being eroded by large-scale industrial developments that are completely out of keeping with a small rural village.
Residents still feel the loss of the village pub. Rural pubs are not just businesses; they are community spaces that bring people together and help sustain village life. We are deeply worried about the growing levels of industrial traffic, noise and disturbance associated with these kinds of developments, alongside the wider environmental impacts on the River Waveney and the surrounding countryside.”
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Adrian Ramsay MP reacts to the King’s Speech, saying “What was needed was a fundamental reset”
PRESS RELEASE
Adrian Ramsay MP reacts to the King’s Speech, saying “What was needed was a fundamental reset”
Adrian Ramsay MP has criticised the Government’s King’s Speech, saying that it failed to deliver the transformative agenda needed to tackle the major challenges facing the country.
Speaking after the King’s Speech, Adrian Ramsay MP for Waveney Valley said:
“I like to be fair with this Government, but there really were not many positives in the King’s Speech. The Duty of Candour Bill absolutely should have been passed long before now. I am glad it was included because families who the state has failed, whether after Hillsborough, the Chinook helicopter crash or other state failures, deserve answers and accountability.
“The speech talked a lot about security, and there are many genuine security threats facing the country, but one area the Government continues to overlook is nature loss and ecosystem collapse. The Government’s own National Security Assessment highlighted that the decline of nature is a risk to national security.
“That matters because nature is fundamental to our quality of life and to the essentials we all rely on, clean air, clean water, food security and the stability of our economy and society. We urgently need clear legislation not only to protect nature but to restore it.
“There was also only a single reference to climate change in the speech, yet at the same time, the Government continues to back airport expansion. It simply does not make sense to dramatically increase emissions on one hand while claiming to be committed to reaching net zero on the other.
“Ultimately, this was a deeply disappointing King’s Speech. What was needed for both the country and this Government was a fundamental reset, one that delivered a transformative agenda to tackle the cost of living crisis, repair overstretched public services, restore nature and confront climate breakdown.
“The speech failed to meet that moment, and the Government now needs to think again if it is serious about addressing the scale of the challenges facing the country.”
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Adrian Ramsay MP visits the new Eye Post Office during the first week of operation.
Adrian Ramsay MP visits the new Eye Post Office during the first week of operation.
Adrian Ramsay MP visited the new Post Office in Eye during its first week of operation, marking the return of a permanent Post Office service to the town for the first time in more than two years.
The reopening follows work by District Councillor Lucy Elkin, who has worked alongside Adrian to help restore the service for residents and businesses as quickly as possible.
The new branch is being run by local postmaster Minesh Patel, who already operates the Post Office in Mendlesham.
Speaking at the Eye Post Office, Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“I’m delighted that, following a lot of behind-the-scenes work from Green Councillor Lucy Elkin, Eye now has a permanent post office again. For far too long, residents have been left without this vital service. With no bank in the town, having a post office is crucial for businesses and residents. In Parliament, I have been pushing for the restoration of local post offices, and I wish the local postmaster, Minesh Patel, all the best.”
Minesh Patel, the postmaster, said.
“I’m delighted that the Eye post office is now operating. From this week, we will be serving the community here in Eye, along with my other store in Mendlesham. I want to thank residents for the warm welcome and support we have already received.”
Cllr Lucy Elkin added.
“Since the previous Post Office closed, residents have consistently told me how important it was to restore this vital service to Eye. I am delighted that, after a great deal of work behind the scenes with Minesh, we now once again have a permanent Post Office in Eye.”
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Adrian Ramsay MP presses Minister for urgent clarity on funding for UEA dental school.
11th of February 2026
Adrian Ramsay MP presses Minister for urgent clarity on funding for UEA dental school.
Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley, has written to Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care at the Department of Health and Social Care, seeking clarity on when funding will be confirmed to allow the University of East Anglia to open its new dental school.
The University of East Anglia has already secured General Dental Council accreditation, its new facilities will be completed this year, and it is ready to recruit its first cohort of students. The remaining barrier is confirmation of funded undergraduate places.
Speaking after sending his letter, Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“Norfolk and the Waveney Valley face some of the poorest access to NHS dentistry in England, while the East of England remains the only region without a dental training institution. Given the scale of unmet need across Norfolk and Suffolk, it is deeply frustrating that the only thing preventing dental teaching at UEA is confirmation of funding from the Department.
"Directing new training capacity to areas with the greatest need must be a priority if we are serious about improving access to NHS dentistry.”
In a Parilmentary debate this week Adrian said:
"The University of East Anglia stands ready to open a new dental school. It has permission from the General Dental Council but is awaiting the funded undergraduate dental places that will be needed to start training new dentists from 2027. Can the Minister set out how those places will be made available on the basis of regional need, so that dental deserts such as the east of England can start to build a sustainable dental workforce?"
Adrian Ramsay has again asked the Minister to set out the timetable for decisions on funded undergraduate places and how regional need will be reflected in the allocation process.
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Notes to editors
Full text of the letter is available here:
Dear Stephen,
I am writing to follow up on my recent remarks in the Adjournment Debate on NHS Dentists [5 February 2026] regarding the acute shortage of NHS dental provision across East Anglia and the readiness of the University of East Anglia to open a new dental school.
As you are aware, the University of East Anglia has secured accreditation from the General Dental Council, its new facilities will be completed this year, and it is prepared to recruit its first cohort from May 2026, with teaching due to commence in September 2027. The remaining barrier is the confirmation of funded undergraduate places, without which the school cannot begin teaching.
As I have raised on a number of occasions, the Norfolk and Waveney catchment area continues to experience some of the poorest access to NHS dentistry in England, with at least 3,000 patients for every dentist carrying out any NHS work, compared with around 2,220 patients per dentist nationally.
This is both a cause and a symptom of a wider structural problem: the East of England remains the only region without a dental training institution. This entrenched shortage makes the case particularly compelling for directing new training capacity towards areas of greatest need. I therefore welcome your indication that the Office for Students will play a role in allocating places and that ministerial advice will inform how those decisions are made.
Given the scale of unmet need in Norfolk and Suffolk, I would be grateful for further clarity on the expected timetable for decisions on the allocation of funded places for the University of East Anglia.
Expanding training capacity must also be accompanied by measures to ensure that graduates are supported to remain in underserved areas and within the NHS. As I have previously highlighted, this will require targeted incentives to encourage retention, alongside meaningful progress on reform of the NHS dental contract to make long-term NHS practice financially sustainable.
I would welcome your response setting out when funding for undergraduate places at the University of East Anglia is likely to be confirmed, and what advice will be provided to the Office for Students to ensure regional need is properly reflected in the allocation process.
Adrian Ramsay MP welcomes today’s news that a new Post Office will open in the Eye this spring
5th of February 2025
Adrian Ramsay MP welcomes today’s news that a new Post Office will open in the Eye this spring, after the previous office closed more than two years ago and left residents without this vital service. District Councillor Lucy Elkin has worked to restore the post office service as soon as possible.
Adrian, speaking after learning the news, said
“I'm delighted that, following a lot of behind-the-scenes work from Green Councillor Lucy Elkin, Eye will soon have a permanent post office, located in a new convenience store. For far too long, residents have been left without this vital service since the previous post office closed over 2 years ago. With no bank in the town, having a post office is crucial for businesses and residents alike. In Parliament, I have been pushing the need for local post offices to be restored, and I congratulate Lucy, who has worked hard to restore the Eye post office service, assisting local postmaster Minesh Patel in finding a suitable location in the town. I wish Minesh, who already runs the post office in Mendlesham, all the best with this new venture and look forward to visiting.”
Adrian Ramsay MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement on business rates, after raising the issue in Parliament last week.
29th of January 2026
Adrian Ramsay MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement on business rates, after raising the issue in Parliament last week.
Adrian Ramsay MP, Waveney Valley, has welcomed the Government's announcement, after raising the case of Blue Boar in Walsham le Willows in Parliament last week. Adrian highlighted that, like village pubs across Waveney Valley and around the country, the Blue Boar would have faced significant increases in business rates from this April against a backdrop of rising costs such as national insurance, energy bills and food prices.
Adrian said,
"I was pleased the Minister engaged with me when I raised the impact of business rates on local pubs in Parliament last week. I broadly welcome the news that the Government is reducing and freezing business rates for pubs for the next three years.
“However, for local pubs to really prosper, the Government now needs to use the three year review period to properly engage with independent pubs across the country, particularly in rural communities like Waveney Valley, where pubs are socially and economically essential local businesses at the heart of their communities. This engagement is needed to build a long-term and sustainable future for independent pubs and needs to include things like reviewing VAT which has a big impact on the hospitality sector.”
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Adrian Ramsay visited Roydon Primary School, where he met with teachers and support staff and looked round the SHIP
29th of January 2026
Green Party MP for Waveney Valley, Adrian Ramsay, recently visited Roydon Primary School in Roydon near Diss, where he met with teachers and support staff and looked round the SHIP, the school’s new classrooms designed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which will open to children later this month.
During the visit, Adrian joined the school assembly, where he answered questions from pupils. Following the assembly, he was shown around SHIP (Specialist Hub of Inclusive Practice), where new classrooms have been created to help children with SEND access education in ways that work best for them, helping every pupil reach their full potential.
Adrian said,
“It was great to be shown around the SHIP, the school’s new classrooms supporting children with SEND needs. They provide the right support while keeping children at the heart of the Roydon School community.
"With fantastic new facilities and dedicated staff, this is exactly the kind of provision we need more of. Specialist support within the school benefits the children who are based in the SHIP and strengthens support to the wider school community as well.
"From my casework, it is clear there is a severe shortage of spaces like this. Too many children are not getting the support they need, whether in mainstream settings or alternative provision, and this also places huge pressure on teachers. More funding and support are clearly needed, and I will be responding to the government's forthcoming consultation to make this case and put forward the evidence from Waveney Valley."
More information on SHIP
The SHIP, located in Roydon Primary School, is run by Norfolk County Council and supports children from across a wide area. The provision, which has space for 16 children, has its own entrance and outdoor play area and is based on the same site as Roydon Primary School. This shared site allows all pupils, both in mainstream classes and in the SHIP, to benefit from being part of the same school community. The SHIP will open to pupils after the February half term.
Green MP calls out Government over low-welfare imports
23rd January 2026
Adrian Ramsay says Government is 'importing cruelty' and not allowing British farmers a 'level playing field'
Adrian Ramsay MP, Waveney Valley, has criticised the Government for an incoherent system that undermines British farmers and animal welfare.
Speaking in Parliament, Adrian highlighted the contradiction that the UK rightfully bans many cruel farming practices, yet imports produced in the same way remain legal.
Contributing to the debate, Adrian said:
"What is illegal to produce here because it is too cruel remains legal to import and sell. It undermines public confidence and leaves higher-welfare British farmers facing unfair competition," he said.
UK farmers operate some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, yet imports of pork, poultry, lamb, and eggs from countries with lower standards have soared. Trade deals risk widening the gap, while public support for banning low-welfare imports is overwhelming.
"According to the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming, 95 per cent of countries with UK market access have lower animal welfare standards than the UK. HMRC data shows non-EU imports of eggs have more than tripled since 2020, poultry imports have risen by 60%, and pork imports by over 80%. In trade discussions with the United States, Ministers have focused on food safety and sanitary standards, but this narrow focus risks leaving a huge loophole for imports produced in ways that would be illegal here, widening the welfare gap instead of closing it," Adrian added.
Adrian called on the Government to ensure all animal products sold in the UK, domestic or imported, meet British welfare standards and carry clear welfare labelling, closing the loophole once and for all.
Adrian also continues to press for further improvements in UK welfare standards such as ending the use of farrowing crates and cages - with real support for farmers for this transition.
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Green MP demands tougher powers for environmental watchdog after damning OEP report.
13th of January 2026
Green MP demands tougher powers for environmental watchdog after damning OEP report.
Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley and DEFRA lead for the Green MPs, said:
"Today’s Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) report lays bare the scale of the crisis and is a deeply damning indictment of the environmental record of successive governments. The report shows that the majority of the ten environmental targets set out in the Environment Act 2021 have little to no chance of being met by 2030.
"Rather than stepping up action, the Government is actively advancing policies that will further damage it, leaving little realistic chance of stopping the decline of iconic British species such as the hedgehog and red squirrel by 2030. The Government must recognise that halting and reversing the decline of nature is central to our wellbeing and to food security as well as a healthy environment.
"If the Government is serious about its climate and biodiversity commitments, it must give the OEP real teeth, including the power to sanction and fine Government departments and local authorities that fail to meet legally binding targets. This would not be an overreach. It would simply restore the level of environmental accountability that existed before Brexit. Without these powers, the OEP risks becoming a watchdog that can bark but cannot bite, while environmental targets remain unmet and nature continues to decline."
Adrian Ramsay, has welcomed the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published today, but warned that it must have real teeth to deliver meaningful improvements for animals.
22nd of December 2025
Green MP for Waveney Valley, Adrian Ramsay, has welcomed the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published today, but warned that it must have real teeth to deliver meaningful improvements for animals.
Adrian Ramsay said:
“There is much to welcome in the Animal Welfare Strategy, but it must have real teeth to deliver for animals. Ministers must set clear timescales to phase out crates and cages, properly support farmers through the transition and not allow imports that don’t meet UK standards.
“I welcome the action on snares, hunting and puppy farming. Puppy legislation must end breeding for extreme, unhealthy traits in dogs. The strategy could go further for animals, particularly by ending greyhound racing, as the Welsh Government is doing.
“Ending the use of farrowing crates and cages – as we called for in the cross-party letter I organised – is particularly crucial for tackling cruelty, and the strategy must set out how and when this will happen.”
Adrian celebrates small and independent businesses and encourages everyone to show their support in the lead up to Christmas
4th December 2025
This week, in the lead up to Small Business Saturday, Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay visited a number of small businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk and attended A Taste of Suffolk, Wine and Cheese in Parliament.
Speaking after the event, Adrian said,
“Small and independent businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create local jobs, bring life to our high streets, and help our market towns thrive. Their success sends out benefits that reach well beyond any single town or high street.”
After speaking with Flint Vineyard, Adrian said,
“Waveney Valley is blessed to have a diverse and thriving independent business like Flint Vineyard just outside Bungay. It is creating outstanding wine - showing the diversity of what can be grown in East Anglia - and supporting local jobs. Reducing VAT for hospitality and reversing the employer National Insurance rise, as the Green Party has proposed, would ease pressure on small businesses like this.”
Adrian added that he always makes a point of visiting local traders.
“Whenever I am in one of our market towns, I try to drop into a few businesses, including local gems such as Zoe’s Kitchen, a beautiful cafe by The Mere in Diss. I talked to the owner about the challenges of rising costs and also about how there's a lot of support locally for our high streets.”
Cross-party Parliamentarians urge Government to end cruelty of cages and crates in UK farming ahead of forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy.
3rd of December 2025
A cross-party group of over 35 Parliamentarians coordinated by Green MP Adrian Ramsay, have today written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging her to ensure that the Animal Welfare Strategy - expected later this month - includes a time-bound phase-out of all confinement cages and crates in UK farming, alongside a fully-funded package to support farmers through the transition.
The letter urges the Government to commit to a phase-out of farrowing crates for sows, individual calf pens, and all cages used for birds. It also calls for adequate financial support to help farmers transition to higher-welfare systems.
Every year, millions of farmed animals in the UK endure severe and prolonged needless suffering inside cages and crates that restrict natural movement and behaviour. Sows in crates cannot turn around, while hens in cages can't even fully stretch their wings.
Speaking after submitting the letter Adrian Ramsay, the Green MP for Waveney Valley, said:
“We often say the UK leads the world on animal welfare, yet millions of animals remain confined in awful conditions that many other European countries have already moved away from. As a nation that prides itself on caring for animals, it is unacceptable that these cruel practices continue. The Animal Welfare Strategy is the moment to put this right and set a clear timetable for moving away from crates and cages.”
The MPs warn that failing to act would mean a wasted opportunity to deliver the ambitious and essential animal welfare improvements that voters were promised.
The letter also calls for stronger resources and powers for enforcement bodies, to ensure already existing laws surrounding animal protection are properly enforced.
This comes as new data reveals that only 2.2% of UK farms were inspected in 2024, meaning 97.8% of farms received no official welfare visit at all. The report, published by the Animal Law Foundation today, highlights the current state of monitoring and enforcement in UK farms.
Edie Bowles, Executive Director, The Animal Law Foundation said:
"The UK government cannot claim to be a world leader in animal protection while failing to enforce the laws that already exist.
"This is our third report, and it is also our third year of disappointment. Year after year, the evidence tells the same story: the system is simply not working. When only a tiny fraction of violations ever lead to consequences, the message to industry is clear: breaking the law carries no real risk."
ENDS
Full letter & signatories:
3rd December 2025
The Rt Hon Emma Reynolds
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing as cross-party Parliamentarians to request that the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy includes a time-bound phase-out of all confinement cages and crates in farming, alongside a properly funded package of support for farmers to transition away from this practice.
Every year, millions of farmed animals in the UK endure severe and prolonged suffering confined to crates and cages. Around 8 million laying hens are kept in cages no larger than an A4 sheet of paper, unable to forage, feel sunlight, or fully stretch their wings. In addition, around 200,000 mother pigs spend nearly a quarter of their adult lives in farrowing crates, unable to turn around for weeks at a time and forced to nurse their piglets through metal bars.
The UK claims to have some of the highest farmed animal welfare standards. But despite progress in moving towards cage-free systems, millions of animals are still suffering daily, leaving us behind a number of European countries.Cages for hens are either banned or being phased-out in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Slovenia and Slovakia. Farrowing crates for sows are banned in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.
In the UK there is clear and growing public, professional and industry-level support for ending this cruel and unnecessary practice. Research from Humane World for Animals shows that over two-thirds of the public oppose the use of farrowing crates. The British Veterinary Association reports that 75% of vets are concerned about the welfare impacts of these crates. And many farmers are ready and willing to transition away from this practice, given appropriate support to do so.
This Government was elected on a mandate to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare improvements in a generation. To deliver on this promise, we call on you to ensure the forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy includes:
A time-bound phase-out of farrowing crates for sows, individual calf pens, and all cages used for birds, including hens, partridges, pheasants and quail.
A comprehensive, funded package of support to help farmers transition to higher-welfare systems.
Adequate resourcing for enforcement bodies and enhanced enforcement powers.
Measures to ensure Parliament can properly track and scrutinise progress on the phase-out, and the Strategy more broadly.
We should be grateful for your response to this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Adrian Ramsay MP
Irene Campbell MP
Fleur Anderson MP
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
Siân Berry MP
Bob Blackman MP
Olivia Blake MP
Richard Burgon MP
Ellie Chowns MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Carla Denyer MP
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
Sorcha Eastwood MP
Sarah Edwards MP
Andrew George MP
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Andrew Gwynne MP
Wera Hobhouse MP
Terry Jermy MP
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
Clive Lewis MP
Kerry McCarthy MP
John McDonnell MP
Helen Maguire MP
Rachael Maskell MP
Manuela Perteghella MP
Peter Prinsley MP
Baroness Redfern
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP
Andrew Rosindell MP
Vikki Slade MP
Alex Sobel MP
Ian Sollom MP
Steve Witherden MP
Adrian is proud that he & his staff are Dementia Friends
14 October 2025
Local MP Adrian Ramsay is proud that he & his staff are Dementia Friends. Recently, the local branches of the Alzheimer's Society gave training to Adrian Ramsay MP and his team. After the training, Adrian said:
“I am proud to share that my constituency team and I are now all fully qualified Dementia Friends, thanks to the support of the Alzheimer’s Society. I cannot thank the Society enough for working with my team.
With one in three people born in the UK today expected to develop dementia in their lifetime, we all must understand more about the condition and how to support those affected. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but there are many types, and all have a profound impact on individuals and families.
As part of the Dementia Friends training, we learned five essential facts that everyone should know:
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
Dementia is not just about losing your memory
There is more to the person than the dementia
A little understanding makes a big difference
I encourage everyone to consider becoming a Dementia Friend. Small steps in understanding and kindness can help make our communities more supportive and inclusive for people living with dementia and their loved ones.”
Hana Richardson, Alzheimer’s Society Local Services Manager, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness, reach those that might need our support and create a society of Dementia Friends within the local community in Norfolk and Waveney.
“Around one million people are living with dementia in the UK. The impact of dementia is devastating. It can often leave people feeling excluded and cut off from everyday life. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends is all about increasing people’s understanding of dementia and inspiring everyone to make a difference for people affected in their communities. It could be checking in on a friend who is caring for someone with dementia, being more patient in the shop queue or taking part in a fundraising event. Whatever you choose to do, a little understanding makes a big difference.
“At Alzheimer’s Society, we know the steps it will take to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives. No one can beat dementia alone. It will take a society to beat it. Join us and become a Dementia Friend today, visit dementiafriends.org.uk”