Cross-party Parliamentarians urge Government to end cruelty of cages and crates in UK farming ahead of forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy.

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  Adrian Ramsay MP initiated this cross-party letter with Irene Campbell MP.

  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. Cagesfor 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