Parliament defies government, bans wild animals in circuses

scorza · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:21

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13884165

MPs have defied the government and backed a ban on wild animals being used in circuses in England after a heated debate in Parliament.

Tory MP Mark Pritchard's motion was approved without a formal vote.

Earlier, he said he was "threatened" by No 10 and told the prime minister would look upon it "dimly" if he pressed ahead with the debate in the Commons.

I think it's great that a Tory MP has defied the will of his leader and stood up for his own beliefs and that of parliament.

Mr Pritchard said he had not "picked a fight" with the government over the issue but "had a message" for Mr Cameron and Conservative whips - who enforce party discipline in the Commons.

"I may just be a little council house lad from a very poor background but that background gives me a backbone, it gives me a thick skin," he said.

"And I am not going to be kowtowed by the whips or even the prime minister of my country on an issue that I feel passionately about, that I have conviction about."

iamtheoneneo · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:24

hehe, good stuff.

gjrc · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:25

strange that they were going to make it a "whip" vote in the first place....

should pick their fights better...

fullmetaltony · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:30

Good man!

Cosimo · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:34

A step in the right direction.

Morbius · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:47

It's nice to see a politician that has the courage of their convictions and actually fights for what they believe in.

Brian8bit · 24 Jun 2011 at 09:57

Great. How many lions and tigers are now going to be out on the dole? Nobody thought of that when they passed this. Some of them have been in the job for over a decade. This is just another instance of the government interfering with the common working Panthera. As a chimpanzee and a tight rope walker, I couldn't even smoke when I was working because of bloody health and safety. Now they're telling me I can't even walk my tightrope. ********.

apatia77 · 24 Jun 2011 at 10:04

Good, circus=animal slavery, and it should be banned in all countries.

Herman Gelmet · 24 Jun 2011 at 10:13

Good for you sir chap!

Shayper · 24 Jun 2011 at 10:28

Morbius said:
It's nice to see a politician that has the courage of their convictions and actually fights for what they believe in.

This 110%

Participant · 24 Jun 2011 at 10:32

Is this all because of that elephant saga a while back? Seems a bit over the top to me. In the wild the animals get eaten and have to find their own food.

Vampire · 24 Jun 2011 at 11:22

Morbius said:
It's nice to see a politician that has the courage of their convictions and actually fights for what they believe in.

As long as his views reflect the views of his constituents, he's there to represent them after all.

I assume in this case his constituents have the same view.

Hatter The Mad · 24 Jun 2011 at 11:58

I really don't understand why the government (PM's office) were so against it :confused:

Abraham · 24 Jun 2011 at 12:16

I thought there had been strict restrictions on wild animals in UK circuses for years ?

coltpython3 · 24 Jun 2011 at 12:20

woooo go Mark Pritchard! 100% respect

Participant · 24 Jun 2011 at 12:43

Hatter The Mad said:
I really don't understand why the government (PM's office) were so against it

Because then he would have to release Eric Pickles into the wild.

eXor · 24 Jun 2011 at 12:48

Robbie G said:
In the wild the animals get eaten

The big cats would disagree.

arknor · 24 Jun 2011 at 12:50

apatia77 said:
Good, circus=animal slavery, and it should be banned in all countries.

yea most people at more than an hour or two away from a zoo or wildlife park.. most of them have animal shows without the animal having to suffer all of the stress from beeing moved around in a cage for 90% of its life

Nikias · 24 Jun 2011 at 13:00

Brian8bit said:
Great. How many lions and tigers are now going to be out on the dole? Nobody thought of that when they passed this. Some of them have been in the job for over a decade. This is just another instance of the government interfering with the common working Panthera. As a chimpanzee and a tight rope walker, I couldn't even smoke when I was working because of bloody health and safety. Now they're telling me I can't even walk my tightrope. ********.

I agree, it's a catastrophe. I dont know why people continue to lionise this awful MP for such unfur treatment of us.