Dr Neil Hudson MP, Shadow DEFRA Minister and equine veterinary surgeon, championed the needs of the equine sector in Parliament during a landmark speech to industry professionals and Parliamentary colleagues this month.
Dr Hudson was invited to speak by the British Horse Council, a key group representing the needs of the equine sector to government, at their Parliamentary event highlighting the crucial nature of the equine sector to the UK. The equine sector contributes £9 billion annually to the overall economy of the UK, the majority of that coming outside of riding itself, and employs 250,000 people directly and indirectly.
During Dr Hudson’s speech, he outlined the urgent action the Government need to take, particularly surrounding horse welfare. He stressed the vital importance of improving the UK’s biosecurity capability to ensure the protection of horse welfare and animal welfare more broadly, amidst threats in recent years such as Equine Influenza and the international threat of African Horse Sickness. He called on the Government to ensure we continue to have effective disease surveillance, including properly funding the redevelopment of the Animal and Plant Health Agency Headquarters in Weybridge, for which only £208million of the £1.6billion needed has been provided by the Government.
The Shadow DEFRA minister also raised the need for the Government to improve its approach to horse welfare as an international issue, including the need to rigidly enforce measures banning the export of livestock that were passed in the previous Parliament, end uncertainty about the status of a movement to a digital system of identification for horses being transported between countries that had been started by the previous Government, and secure long-term arrangements for access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond the grace period committed to under the Windsor Framework.
Following Dr Hudson’s speech to the British Horse Council, he commented:
“I know that many of my constituents here in Epping Forest care deeply about horses and are strong supporters of the British equine sector. A healthy and resilient equine sector needs healthy and resilient horses, so protecting horse health and welfare is vital.
“I am very grateful to the British Horse Council for the invitation to speak at their Parliamentary event about the needs of our crucial equine sector. The equine sector is a major employer and contributor of up to £9billion every year to the UK economy.”
“The Government needs to act urgently and robustly, including stepping up our fight against biosecurity threats to our horses including Equine Influenza and African Horse Sickness as well working internationally to improve the safe and pragmatic movement of horses across borders and secure long-term arrangements for their welfare such as digitalised identification and access to veterinary medicines.”
Dr Hudson is a passionate advocate for the equine sector as a Member of Parliament and Shadow DEFRA Minister, informed by his long-standing career as an equine veterinary surgeon. He has raised these crucial issues for the sector in the Chamber and as a Member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee in the previous Parliament. He has also worked with key representatives in the field, meeting with stakeholders in the equine industry, and even chairing World Horse Welfare’s Annual Conference twice in the previous Parliament.
You can see a selection of Dr Hudson’s actions on this issue at the following link:
Attendance of World Horse Welfare’s Parliamentary event in Parliament this year: https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/veterinary-surgeon-dr-neil-hudson-mp-stands-equine-welfare-world-horse-welfare-event
Meeting with stakeholders in Newmarket last year: https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/safe-ease-movement-horses-across-borders-crucial-thoroughbred-stakeholders-tell-shadow-defra
Parliamentary contributions on horse welfare and biosecurity:
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/dr-neil-hudson-mp-makes-case-safe-and-smooth-horse-import-and-export-during-house-commons
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/veterinary-mp-dr-neil-hudson-speaks-debate-horserace-betting-levy-board-and-horse-welfare
