Winchester MP 'over the moon' as his illegal puppy bill is set to become law
It will mean there will be a ban on importation of dogs which have been mutilated or are heavily pregnant as well as all puppies and kittens under the age of six months.
Speaking to ITV News Meridian's Political Correspondent Kit Bradshaw, Danny Chambers MP said, "In simple terms, this law will mean it will make it illegal to bring dogs into the UK that are under six months old, which will take away the market of puppies."
The private members bill still has to go through the House of Lords to become law.
The Winchester MP's bill has received backing by the RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association and Dogs Trust, with further calls of the creation of an animal welfare and public health framework.
It will also crack down on the steep increase in animal mutilations, in particular ear cropping and tail docking - which has seen a 2000% increase in cases over the past decade.
This practice has been illegal in the United Kingdom since 2013, however it has been legal to import affected dogs.
There has also been a 600% rise in pregnant dogs illegally smuggled into the UK over the past three years.
Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, said, "I am so pleased to have delivered this bill within a year of it being elected. It is something that the veterinary profession and other welfare professions have been campaigning on for years.
"To have an impact so quickly, I'm really pleased."
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Edinburgh Reporter
4 hours ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh South West MP's bill progresses
A bill to highlight the need for research into cancers which are designated 'rare', and which was introduced by Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, has now progressed to the House of Lords. A first reading of the Rare Cancers Bill has already been heard in the Lords, it is expected to returns there in the autumn for its second reading. The purpose of the new law is to 'make provision to incentivise, research and investment into the treatment of rare types of cancer'. These are the group of cancers in respect of which little progress has been made in researching treatment or a cure. The Rare Cancers Bill is what is known as a ballot bill – a type of Private Members' Bill used in the House of Commons. Around ten months ago Dr Arthur was chosen to pick a numbered ping pong ball out of a goldfish bowl at the start of the parliamentary term to give him the chance of proposing a Ballot Bill. He was then able to choose his own subject matter. Dr Arthur said: 'It feels like things are lining up. The vast bulk of these bills do fail, so it's tremendous to get this far. And let's hope it doesn't fail, but what it's done so far is it's really got people talking about rare cancers, and it's really put some of the charities which support this sector in the spotlight, and it's been a chance for them to connect with people as well.' He continued: 'What got me started on this was that my father-in-law died of a type of brain tumour called glioblastoma, which is a rare cancer type. It wasn't until I drew the ballot and people started to contact me about what I could focus my bill on that I found that the type of brain tumour he died from – there's been no real progress in terms of treatment for decades. 'And what happened to him, he died around six months after a diagnosis. That is not unusual. I think on average, glioblastoma, nine months. Some people do live significantly longer than that, particularly if they manage to get surgery. But nine months is the average life expectancy after diagnosis. And it's the same for a lot of cancers in this field where there's just not been the progress. 'I spoke to the father of a preschool child, she had neuroblastoma, which is a type of cancer which attaches itself to your internal organs, and she died. And again, same story, he found out there's just so little money going into researching that cancer type and just not enough progress. And people in Edinburgh will remember Kira the Machine, the teenager, she had the same type of cancer and she's been able to access trials and cutting edge treatments, but still 10 years on, she still has the cancer and it's still a big part of her life.' 'The bill has the backing of around 40 charities which was useful as the bill came to the House of Commons for its Third Reading to be met with many amendments from fellow MP Sir Christopher Chope. The charities sent 120,000 emails to their supporters and some contacted their own MPs which meant the bill had a lot of support to get through the Commons. 'I think I've said this many times, I've always felt it was better to come away with something rather than nothing. Some of the private members bills, what MPs do, because they know how difficult it can be to succeed. What they do is they aim really high and they create a fantastic campaign because it's about raising awareness and they accept that ultimately there's a good chance it's not going to succeed. But our focus is on succeeding and actually delivering something.' His parliamentary colleague Tracy Gilbert also secured a Ballot Bill – hers was a different topic completely – the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill, and that has also passed to the House of Lords for a Second Reading. Third Reading Dr Arthur said in the House of Commons during the Third Reading that when he was successful in having his bill supported he got 'so many emails, many of which were about glioblastoma. The reality is that someone who was diagnosed that day with glioblastoma would more than likely be dead by now – that is how serious the condition is'. The Edinburgh South West MP has used the parliamentary time to mention several constituents who have or have had a rare cancer. He said: 'I shared the tragic stories of a young constituent called Tilly, who passed away from neuroblastoma, and Kira, who has lived with the same condition for a decade—half of her life. I am proud to wear the Solving Kids' Cancer badge, which Kira's mother Aud gave me when I last met her. 'One lady travelled quite far to meet me at my constituency surgery in July in Tesco in Colinton Mains. Her daughter was diagnosed with a sarcoma. In Tesco, next to the bleeping self-checkout aisles, she told me about the uncertainty she had faced after that diagnosis and how she had found it impossible even to understand which trials were available, let alone access them. I could see that she had felt powerless and had lost hope. The other reason she was in Edinburgh – perhaps the most important reason – was that she was meeting her ex-husband to scatter her daughter's ashes in a local park. What is happening to people who face these conditions is quite incredible, so it is right that we seek to address them.' He explained to the House that there are three recurring themes in all the stories he has heard – the first is frustration, the second is perseverance and the third is that every story concludes with an offer of help from those patients who 'know that their options are limited'. Dr Arthur said: 'For far too long, rare cancer patients have been left behind—as medical science makes significant progress in many other complex fields, we have not seen enough progress in this one—but they feel this piece of legislation could mark a meaningful shift for many and turn out to be life-altering, perhaps even lifesaving, for some. There is one statistic that I often mention: rare cancers are not really rare, as they account for 47% of all cancer diagnoses in the UK each year. That equates to 180,000 people. If you are one of those 47%, two things are true: you are more likely to face outdated treatments and you are more likely to die.' The bill should spark a government review of what are known as 'orphan drugs' – a term which Dr Arthur says he prefers to talk about rare conditions – to explore new ways of getting the drugs companies to try to find innovative treatments for rare cancers. He hopes this will reduce barriers to research and also mean more trials are conducted in the UK, so saving more lives. Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour) presenting his bill to the Speaker in October 2024. Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour) PHOTO © House of Commons Like this: Like Related
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
QUENTIN LETTS: At 4.25pm, 800 years of history drew to a close. Exit the dukes and earls
Eight centuries of English history ended at 4.25pm when the House of Lords accepted that hereditary peers should be given the heave-ho. There was no division on the third reading of the Bill. 'The contents have it,' declared Lady Fookes on the Woolsack, from under an orange hairdo that matched splashes of her jazzy jacket. And that, m'dears, was that. Chop! Exit the dukes and earls and viscounts and hereditary barons. In their absence we will have a Lords entirely appointed by prime ministers. Our political class has distinguished itself. It has made a blot on our democracy even stinkier. And yet, as human spectacle, the Lords has its moments. One Lord Spiritual (ie bishop) was in attendance. It was that one from Newcastle who assassinated Justin Welby. She speaks all the jargon about 'impact assessments' and wears an old pair of Maurice Saatchi's spectacles. Nearby: Kenneth O. Morgan (Lab). Very Welsh. Aged 91, he could be a good 20 years older. Imagine the poet R.S. Thomas's suave twin. The Europhile Duke of Wellington (Crossbencher) graced us with his presence, handsome and maybe a little disappointing. More upmarket PR man than a Wellesley. At the far end of the House stood Lady Meyer (Con) in an eyepatch, no doubt the consequence of a recent duel. The air kept being rent by the bark of a country pheasant. On closer analysis this turned out to be a repeated coughing from Lady Butler-Sloss (Crossbencher), retired beak and formidable aunt of the actor Nigel Havers. PG Wodehouse knew her ilk. This was no day for worn arguments about hereditary peers, Lords reform and so forth. The only political gravy swilling around in the bottom of the pan concerned a plea from the Tories that the ejected lords be offered life peerages. Lord True, Tory leader, suggested he and his lot could go on dirty protest and ignore parliamentary conventions unless a few of the departees were shown some clemency. Former MP and Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth (Con) said Labour had now 'lit the fuse... for an elected House' and that could 'blow everything apart' both in the Lords and the Commons. Lord True added that the British people 'have never been asked to assent to an all-appointed House'. Fair point. Quick poll for a website, perhaps: do you approve or not of an Upper House that will now be composed entirely of political-party greasers, prime ministerial acolytes and failed MPs? The tone from departing blue-bloods was one of acidic sorrow rather than anything nastier. Lord Mancroft (Con) felt he and his noble comrades were being 'thrown out like discarded rubbish'. He had not thought it legal, these days, to be sacked on the basis of your birth. 'It feels deeply, deeply offensive.' Lady Smith (Lab), Leader of the House, assured him it was nothing personal; her trouser suit of imperial purple possibly betrayed her truer feelings. Lord Grocott (Lab), who had long waged class war, gloated. Telly scientist Lord Winston (Lab), hands in pockets, made an incomprehensible speech about genes. The 20th Earl of Caithness (Con) thanked Labour for having given him a financial boost in recent years. Having inherited the earldom in 1965, he recalled that the daily allowance when he first attended was a touch under a fiver. Only when the Blairites started filling the place with their own c.1999 did the rate shoot upwards. Things can only get better. All of which leaves me little space to describe the jaw-locking dullness of Sir K. Starmer's session at the Commons liaison committee. Jings, it was joyless. In the second row of the public seats sat a lass in a blue dress who was fighting hard to stay awake. Her eyeballs kept doing that thing where only the whites are visible. She yawned, sighed, eased her neck but it was no good. Both eyes shut, she slumped forward, dead to Westminster. Just like a hereditary peer.
Powys County Times
16 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Israel ‘tarnishing reputation', Lammy says as country rejects UK warnings
The Israeli government is 'tarnishing' its reputation by ignoring calls from Britain and other nations for an end to the Middle East war, David Lammy has warned, after it dismissed international accusations over its actions in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary said Palestinians have been subject to a 'grotesque spectacle' as he addressed MPs amid a ground operation targeting Deir al-Balah, the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the enclave. Earlier on Monday, Mr Lammy and counterparts from 24 other nations including France, Canada and Australia urged Israel to lift restrictions on the flow of aid. They condemned the government's 'dangerous' system for delivering humanitarian assistance, which they said 'deprives Gazans of human dignity.' 'We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,' the statement, which was also signed by the EU commissioner for equality, said. The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. Alongside 25 other partners, the UK message is clear: the war in Gaza must end now. We need an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages and a full resumption of aid. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 21, 2025 In response, Israel's foreign ministry claimed the statement was 'disconnected from reality' and 'sends the wrong message to Hamas.' 'The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation,' the ministry said. 'Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides. 'At these sensitive moments in the ongoing negotiations, it is better to avoid statements of this kind.' Asked about the situation later on Monday, Mr Lammy told the Commons: 'That ignoring of the international community is tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel. 'We continue, of course, to look at what further we may need to do as he would expect.' Palestinians have been subjected to a 'grotesque spectacle' and a 'litany of horrors,' he said, adding: 'I utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their basic needs. 'I firmly believe the Israeli government's actions are doing untold damage to Israel's standing in the world, and undermining Israel's long-term security.' Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller had earlier asked Mr Lammy: 'Can he explain why there have been so few consequences since he and the minister spoke so powerfully in the last two months? 'And can he dispel the widespread view that he is not setting the policy he would choose, but that he is instead being reined in by No 10's desire not to upset President Trump, by acting more boldly.' Mr Lammy said 'it is a source of great regret' that the conflict has not been brought to an end. Earlier this month Israeli defence minister Israel Katz laid out plans for the 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, Gaza's most southern city which has been heavily damaged through the war. He reportedly said that the military would initially move 600,000 Palestinians there, with the aim of eventually transferring the whole population to Rafah. 'Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a 'humanitarian city' are completely unacceptable,' the foreign ministers said on Monday. 'Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.' The signatories also pledged that they would be 'prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire'. In his statement to Parliament, Mr Lammy also announced a new £60 million package to support food assistance programmes, water and sanitation services and maternal and children's healthcare in the enclave. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry have said dozens of people were killed trying to access food aid over the weekend. At the Commons Liaison Committee, Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to recognising a Palestinian state and described the situation in Gaza as 'intolerable'. 'Whether that's the deaths of those that are queuing for aid, whether it's the plans to force Palestinians to live in certain areas or be excluded from certain areas, they are all intolerable and absolutely wrong in principle,' he said. Sir Keir's Government also faced criticism from the Labour chairwoman of the Commons International Development Committee over the continued supply of parts for the F-35 fighter jet to Israel. Sarah Champion said: 'Alongside 25 other countries, the UK has issued a statement condemning Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank but failed to provide concrete actions on how they will be held to account. 'The committee's recent report on upholding international law, and our challenge on F-35 components, both give the Government practical tools to compel Israel to meet its obligations as an occupying nation.' Israeli ground troops pushed into areas of Deir al-Balah, where several aid groups are based, for the first time on Monday. Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in the city, which has avoided widespread devastation during the war, leading to speculation that Hamas holds large numbers of hostage there. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the October 7 attack in 2023 that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive.
