Animal Welfare Award Winner - Ruth Jones MP
About the category
This category recognises UK politicians who have done the most to protect animals both in the UK and abroad.
The ideal candidate will have gone above and beyond the role expected of them to promote policies which ensure the wellbeing of animals that are at risk through malicious practices such as hunting or habitat destruction, or mitigate immediate threats to animal populations.
This year, Ruth Jones MP was selected as the winner of the Animal Welfare award. Our panel was particularly impressed by her unwavering commitment to protecting animals and her willingness to collaborate with campaigners on animal welfare campaigns.
The 2024 Animal Welfare Award is sponsored by Four Paws UK, you can read more about the work that Four Paws does to protect animals around the world here.
The 2024 Animal Welfare Shortlist
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
In December 2023, after DEFRA Secretary Steve Barclay did not respond to a request to reintroduce the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, Spellar re-introduced the bill to ensure it did not fall off the legislative agenda.
Ruth Jones MP
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
Ruth Jones MP has been a consistently vocal supporter of bans for trophy hunting imports and animal welfare
legislation throughout the past year. The Newport West and Islwyn MP has also been highlighted by campaingers as one of their most consistent parliamentary supporters
Mairi Gougeon MSP
Rt Hon. Lord Spellar
Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock
As Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land
Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon has been a consistent advocate in Government for animal welfare. In August 2023 Gougeon announced a new fund to protect Scottish livestock. Campaigners have praised her collaborative approach to animal welfare issues.
Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock
Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock
Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock
Baroness Hayman has supported Bills that regulate livestock and animal agriculture. Until 2024, she Co-Chaired the APPG on Banning Trophy Hunting, and she welcomed and added amendments to the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill in the Lords in March 2024.
Baroness Hayman has been rewarded for her work with a role as Parliamentary
Und
Baroness Hayman has supported Bills that regulate livestock and animal agriculture. Until 2024, she Co-Chaired the APPG on Banning Trophy Hunting, and she welcomed and added amendments to the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill in the Lords in March 2024.
Baroness Hayman has been rewarded for her work with a role as Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Matt Vickers MP
Baroness Sue Hayman of Ullock
Matt Vickers MP
Matt Vickers MP is a consistent and vocal advocate of animal rights in Parliament, arguing for more stringent regulations in factory farms and pushing for the introduction of labelling for animal welfare. He’s been highlighted by animal welfare organisations for his significant contributions to the issue.