On Monday 16 June 2025, twenty Members of Parliament gathered in Westminster to debate a public petition calling for an end to the use of cages in farming. Launched by Dame Joanna Lumley and supported by over 100,000 signatories, including many FOUR PAWS supporters, this was the third such debate prompted by public demand – and the first to take place under the new Labour government. 

Among the systems discussed were farrowing crates, used to confine pregnant sows shortly before and after giving birth. These metal stalls prevent sows from turning around for up to five weeks, inflicting considerable physical discomfort and psychological distress. 

Laying hens fare no better. Around 14 million hens in the UK are housed in so-called ‘enriched’ cages, where each bird has a space no larger than an A4 sheet of paper. These cramped environments prevent them from performing natural behaviours like dustbathing, perching and stretching their wings — all vital to their welfare. 

Calves are also affected. Separated from their mothers shortly after birth, many are kept in solitary pens for up to eight weeks. While intended to reduce disease transmission, these pens often cause young calves to suffer fear, isolation and boredom — all the more concerning given calves are deeply social animals.

More than 105,000 UK citizens stood up for animals by signing the petition, sending a strong message that the public expects meaningful reform and a clear timetable to phase out cages from British farming. Thousands of these signatures came from impassionate FOUR PAWS supporters and with the help of animal welfare champion, and TV presenter Kate Lawler and creators Rewriting Earth we were able to raise awareness of this critical issue through undercover footage and eye-catching animations.

The debate was opened by Irene Campbell, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, who gave a detailed overview of the various cage systems still permitted in UK farming and their detrimental impact on animal welfare. 

There was cross-party support for change, with MPs echoing concerns about not only the continued use of cages in domestic farming but also the risk of importing lower-welfare products. Several MPs called for clearer labelling on food to empower consumers to make informed choices based on how animals were raised.

In his response on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister Daniel Zeichner MP reaffirmed the Government’s stated commitment to maintaining the UK’s leadership on animal welfare. He acknowledged that many European countries have already moved ahead with bans or phase-outs of cage systems and said: 

“I am keen to act and certainly do not want to fall behind the EU countries that have already banned, or are in the process of banning, cages and crates.”

But the reality is, the UK is already lagging behind. Currently, we rank only ninth among European nations for cage-free farming, with 34% of farmed animals still kept in caged systems. In contrast, countries such as Luxembourg (2%), Sweden (4%) and Austria (5%) are significantly further ahead. As recently as 2024, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on cage keeping of laying hens, spearheading progress ahead of the national government.

So if we really do want to stay ahead, we need to turn these words into action. 

Encouragingly, the Minister signalled that proposals will be brought forward and subjected to public consultation. He also referenced the Government’s manifesto commitment to deliver “the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare.” 

Whether that ambition is matched by decisive policy will become clear when the Government publishes its animal welfare strategy later this year. Until then, we’ll hang onto these warm words, even though they don’t cut the cages.  

Your voices and actions have helped bring this issue to the heart of Westminster once again — and we’ll continue working to ensure that political debate is replaced by meaningful change.