Stone MP Sir Gavin Williamson has called for a total ban on the non stun slaughter of animals, in comments issued as part of a statement from his office.
Sir Gavin said:
“Leading animal welfare charities including the RSPCA have all called for an end to this barbaric practice and I am entirely in agreement with them.
“It cannot be right that in 2026 the law allows animals to be subject to horrific, unnecessary pain that rightly evokes outrage from charities, members of the public and animal rights campaigners.”
In his statement, Sir Gavin pointed to recent figures which he said show the practice is becoming more widespread.
He referenced estimates from the Food Standards Agency, which he said suggest that around 30.1 million animals were slaughtered in the UK in 2024 without being pre stunned. According to the figures cited, this represents an increase of 18.5 per cent compared with 2022.
He said the rise in numbers showed the law needed to change.
“Whilst it is ever so important to be respectful and understanding to the culture of religious communities, I cannot stay silent and allow sentient animals to be killed in such a cruel way,” he said.
“I am calling on the Government to urgently act and ban all forms of non stun slaughter so animals no longer have to suffer such unnecessary pain.”
Sir Gavin also raised concerns about where meat produced using non stun slaughter methods ends up being sold. In his comments, he referred to reports suggesting such meat has been sold by major supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda.
3 comments
Belinda Sherlock
Totally support this as well as clarity for full stun and not just partial. Equally all animal products needs significant improvement regarding clear and transparent labelling rather than needing to check abattoir codes etc. It should be simple. Full stun used or not on all labelling and consistent ways of communicating it much like the Red Tractor logo.
Susan walsh
Only allow full stun slaughter no partial or temporary stun either. Anything less makes us uncivilised and inhumane as a society. Can’t believe it has been going on on this scale for so long. I will be writing to my mp for his support. Every animal that has been killed in this way is blood on the hands of our whole nation
MS CLARE R CAMERON
According to Farmers Weekly, 70% of lambs are halal slaughtered in the UK. The Muslim population is 6.5%
They consume 20% of lamb
So 50% of lamb is unnecessarily halal slaughtered.
There should be NO non stun slaughterhouses in the UK
We cannot allow superstition to overrule animal welfare.
Thank you for being a voice for the animals