Scottish animal welfare charity, OneKind, has today (4th September) criticised the Scottish Government for failing to include any direct animal welfare commitments in its just released Programme for Government 2024/25. 

OneKind works to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals through campaigning and political lobbying and was deeply disappointed to discover that the Programme did not include a single direct animal welfare commitment. The previous 2023/24 Programme for Government included a commitment to consult on phasing out cages for egg-laying hens. 

OneKind Director, Bob Elliot, said: 

“We were deeply disappointed to discover that the Government’s Programme for Government did not include any direct commitments to improve animal welfare in Scotland. This is, quite frankly, very poor from the Scottish Government.  

“The Scottish Government has often been at the forefront of animal welfare in the UK. They were the first to prohibit wild-animal circuses and the ‘sport’ of fox hunting. 

“Scots are passionate about animal welfare. They want a Government that is committed to improving the lives of Scotland’s animals and legislation that effect real change. The absence of any such commitments is glaring”.

The charity’s current campaigns include their Stand Up for Pigs campaign to ban farrowing crates in Scotland and their work co-ordinating the Unbound the Greyhound coalition, that is working to ban greyhound racing in Scotland. 

Notes to Editor 

1. OneKind is a Scottish animal protection charity working to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals.
2. You can learn more about the charity’s campaigns here. 
3. You can see the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government here.