Sir Gavin Williamson is calling for a total ban on the non-stun slaughter of animals after a significant increase in this “barbaric practice.”
The latest figures from the Food Standards Agency estimate that in 2024, 30.1 million animals were slaughtered in the UK without pre-stunning – representing an 18.5% from 2022.
Leading supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and others have been found to sell meat that had been produced initially by using non-stun slaughter practice.
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.
“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.
“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.”
