Born Free laments lack of wildlife commitments in 2026 King’s Speech

Born Free is deeply disappointed at the government’s decision to omit any meaningful commitments to nature protection or animal welfare from today’s King’s Speech.  

At a time when wildlife faces unprecedented pressures, the absence of even a passing reference to the government’s stated ambitions for nature and animals represents a troubling retreat from promises made only months ago. 

In its 2024 election manifesto, the Labour party promised to “improve access to nature, promote biodiversity, and protect our landscapes and wildlife.” As recently as December 2025, DEFRA published its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, a document that set out a series of commitments intended to raise standards, strengthen protections, and position the UK as a global leader in animal welfare.  

Yet today’s announcements offered no indication of how, or even whether, these commitments will be implemented. For organisations like Born Free, which work daily to protect wild animals and safeguard threatened species, this silence represents a big step backwards. 

The government’s legislative briefing, released alongside the Speech, similarly failed to outline timelines or mechanisms for delivering on the government’s election pledges and animal welfare strategy. These include long-awaited measures on wildlife protection including a close season for hare shooting, animal cruelty prevention such as implementing the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, and improved welfare standards for animals kept in captivity. Without legislative follow-through, these commitments risk becoming little more than unfulfilled aspirations. 

Born Free believes that the UK has both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example. The country’s biodiversity continues to decline, with species such as hedgehogs, bats, and many bird populations under severe pressure. Meanwhile, the welfare of wild animals in captivity — from zoos to private ownership — continues to be governed by frameworks that are outdated and poorly enforced.  

The December strategy acknowledged these challenges; today’s legislative agenda ignores them. 

We urge the government to bring forward concrete proposals that reflect the urgency of the situation. This must include clear legislative pathways, transparent timelines, and meaningful consultation with conservation and welfare organisations. The UK public consistently demonstrates strong support for animal protection, and it is vital that government policy reflects this. 

Born Free will continue to advocate for the animals and wild spaces that cannot speak for themselves. But real progress requires political will. Today’s omissions leave us more determined than ever to ensure that the commitments made by the government on protecting nature and improving animal welfare do not fade quietly into the background.