NICK Smith MP for Blaenau Gwent has backed a campaign to end the use of cages for farmed animals.

Mr Smith recently attended a parliamentary event in support of leading farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming’s “End the Cage Age” petition.

The petition is open until September 2019 has already been signed by more than 100,000 people.

Nick Smith, Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent attended the session to show his support for a future where British farming is cage-free.

Mr Smith said: “I understand that more than 16 million farm animals are trapped in cages every year in the UK.

“These cages are inhumane, outdated and clearly detrimental to farm animal welfare.

“Several other European countries have already banned certain cages that are still permitted in the UK.

“Cage-free farming systems are already widely used and have been proven to be economically viable. There is no need for the UK to continue using caged systems.

“We must be more ambitious in introducing better standards for farmed animal welfare.

“I am happy to give my support to the End the Cage Age campaign and call on the Government to deliver a cage-free future for British farming.”

James West, Compassion in World Farming’s Senior Policy Manager, said: “Cage systems are cruel and prevent so many essential natural behaviours. Yet, across the UK, millions of animals are confined in cages every year. This is despite a wealth of robust scientific evidence to demonstrate the suffering caused by ‘enriched’ cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for sows.

“The Government has stated on numerous occasions that the UK will be the global leader in farm animal welfare once we leave the EU. If it is serious about this ambition, it must embrace a cage-free future.”

To find out more about the End the Cage Age campaign click here.

The petition is available here.