When people think about socialism, they usually - justly - think about rights at work, good public services and economic justice. Animal protection is often placed in a different category altogether: something important, perhaps, but secondary to the "real" business of politics.
That has always seemed a strange distinction to me.
Socialism is about challenging the abuse of power, extending compassion and recognising our responsibilities to others. It is rooted in the belief that how we treat the vulnerable matters, and that society should be judged not simply by its wealth but by its values. Those principles do not stop at the boundary of our own species.
Animal protection should not be seen as a niche concern sitting somewhere outside the priorities of progressive politics. It is a natural expression of many of the values socialists already hold.
Britain claims, after all, to be a nation of animal lovers. Millions of us share our homes with companion animals. Concerns about farming standards, wildlife protection, animal testing and animal cruelty command broad public support. People care deeply about how animals are treated and expect governments to care too.
Yet animal protection still struggles to occupy a significant place in political debate and action. It is often treated as an optional extra, to be addressed once more pressing priorities have been dealt with. Animal protection activists are very used to hearing: “when parliamentary time allows”.
That misunderstands both the politics and the policy.
Animal welfare intersects with some of the biggest questions facing modern government. It touches on food production, environmental sustainability, public health, scientific innovation, safe communities, and the future of rural areas. Decisions about farming systems affect not only animal welfare but biodiversity, soil health and climate resilience. Investment in non-animal methods of research can reduce reliance on animal testing while helping position Britain as a leader in emerging scientific technologies.
These are not fringe issues. They are questions about what kind of economy we want and what kind of society we are trying to build.
For socialists, there is also a broader point. The same economic system that too often treats workers as disposable can also treat animals as units of production. The rise of intensive farming was not driven by concern for animals, farmers or rural communities. It was driven by the pursuit of efficiency, scale and profit. That does not mean every farmer is responsible for the system they operate within. Many care deeply about animal welfare and often feel squeezed by the same economic pressures themselves. But it does mean we should be prepared to question systems that prioritise extraction and productivity above welfare and stewardship.
Compassion is not a finite resource. Caring about animal welfare does not diminish our concern for people. The person who believes workers deserve dignity and respect is frequently the same person who believes animals should be treated humanely. Both instincts flow from a belief that power carries responsibilities and that vulnerability should never be exploited.
The Labour Government's recent animal welfare strategy is ambitious and welcome. It demonstrates that animals remain on the political agenda and provides an important foundation for future progress. Measures relating to farming, wildlife and animal welfare standards show that these issues are being taken seriously.
But there is also an opportunity to be bolder and to recognise that animal protection is a mainstream political concern rather than a specialist interest, not a competing priority but part of a wider vision of a more humane society.
At a time when many people feel disconnected from politics, animal welfare also offers something valuable. It speaks to values that cut across traditional political divides: kindness, responsibility, stewardship and fairness. It speaks to a politics that is about the moral choices we make as a society.
The socialist movement has always sought to widen the circle of concern and challenge assumptions about whose interests matter. Animal protection belongs within that tradition.
A Labour government committed to building a fairer, kinder and more sustainable country should have the confidence to stand up for animals - human and non-human.
Animal protection is not a distraction from socialist values. It is one expression of them.
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Kerry Postlewhite is Chair of Mainstream's Interim Council.
All blog posts represent the views of the author alone and not necessarily those of Mainstream.
