MORE than 80% of people want animal welfare laws to remain at their current standard, or improve, after Brexit, the RSPCA has claimed.

A poll by the animal welfare charity concluded that 81% of respondents felt that current legislation should be maintained or tightened, while only 5% wanted to see the laws relaxed.

RSPCA public affairs head David Bowles said: “This poll sends a really strong message to the government as they negotiate our way out of the EU that the public care deeply about animal welfare.

“There is no doubt that Brexit is going to be a complex issue, a lot of legislation covering farm animals in particular will need to be reviewed, but this is a golden opportunity for the government to improve welfare and also consider rewarding farmers who rear to higher welfare standards."

Mr Bowles said that Westminster had already acknowledged that leaving the European Union offered opportunities to update and improve animal welfare, and highlighted the RSPCA's wishlist for additional measures, which included:

- A requirement for compulsory CCTV in abattoirs;

- Mandatory labelling of food according to how animals are reared;

- Reformed slaughter legislation to end non stun slaughter – or at least ensure that the meat from unstunned animals only goes to those communities exempt under the law;

- Changes to the way subsidies are paid to farmers to encourage those that improve animal welfare;

- Measures to end live exports and reduce journey times for animals being transported;

- New welfare legislation for other farm animals, including ducks, sheep, dairy and beef cattle.