The political parties running for election in Holyrood have all now published their manifestos. We've had a close look at their animal related commitments, and whether they included what we asked them to.

Since last year we have been sharing our OneKind manifesto with the parties, suggesting priority issues and policies they should include in their Scottish election manifestos. With the election only two weeks away, we can now share who has said what about some of our key suggestions. We've used their own words, so you can judge for yourselves.

Reform UK did not mention cages. 

Scottish Conservatives did not mention cages. 

"Scottish Labour will act to protect animals in Scotland by [...] Working in partnership with farmers to improve animal welfare, with a strategy to target rural veterinary shortages and phase out the use of farrowing crates."

Scottish Greens: "Phase out harmful agricultural practices, including the abuse of antibiotics to stimulate unnatural growth, the use of farrowing crates for pigs and cages for chickens, as well as the killing of day-old male chicks."

SNP did not mention cages.

Scottish Liberal Democrats did not mention cages. 

Reform UK did not mention wild animals kept as 'exotic pets'. 

Scottish Conservatives did not mention wild animals kept as 'exotic pets'.

"Scottish Labour will act to protect animals in Scotland by [...] Developing a list of “permitted species” that can be kept as pets, working to reduce the keeping of exotic animals in unsuitable domestic conditions."

Scottish Greens: "Clamp down on the trade in exotic pets so that animals are left to thrive in their ideal habitats, with better regulation of the sale of exotic animals online and in pet shops as well as new legislation to clarify the species that can be kept safely and fairly in a home environment. Roll out a new public education campaign so that people are better informed about the welfare needs of exotic species and the level of care they require."

SNP did not mention wild animals kept as 'exotic pets'. 

Scottish Liberal Democrats did not mention wild animals kept as 'exotic pets'.

Reform UK did not mention any updates to animal welfare or wildlife legislation. 

Scottish Conservatives did not mention any updates to animal welfare or wildlife legislation. 

"Scottish Labour will act to protect animals in Scotland by [...] Reviewing and consolidating wildlife legislation, to strengthen and clarify wildlife and animal protection laws, reflecting the changes and developments made in the 20 years since Scottish Labour’s Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006."

Scottish Greens: "Review and update Scotland’s animal welfare laws to take account of the latest scientific understanding of animals’ sentience, agency and welfare needs, as well as expanding the range of species protected under law. Make the laws protecting wildlife easier to enforce by reviewing, modernising and consolidating wildlife legislation into a single, consistent Act with ethical principles at its heart."

SNP did not mention any updates to animal welfare or wildlife legislation. 

Scottish Liberal Democrats did not mention any updates to animal welfare or wildlife legislation. 

Reform UK did not mention salmon farming.

Scottish Conservatives: "Our food and drink industry [gives ...] world-leading produce like whisky and salmon. [...] Coastal communities are suffering from population decline while the fishing industry is in a downturn. That is why we must support this industry and the jobs and communities it sustains in coastal areas. That means working with the industry to support aquaculture, with a strong focus on making sure fish farming works for local people, other industries and the environment."

"Scottish Labour is determined to deliver excellence for visitors, working in partnership to build a tourism strategy that [...] Markets Scotland as a premium food and drink destination, leveraging the strength of whisky and salmon"

Scottish Greens: "Pause new salmon farms or the expansion of existing sites until the industry demonstrably improves fish welfare, reduces mortality rates and escapes, and tackles chemical and plastic pollution. Give regulators greater powers to shut down fish farms that fail to meet welfare and environmental requirements."

SNP: "Our fishing and aquaculture sectors are the backbone of many rural and coastal communities providing crucial employment and investment across Scotland. Our focus is on supporting the sector to ensure it has a sustainable and prosperous future. We are committed to improving fish welfare and streamlining consenting processes to support innovation and investment which is crucial to the future of the aquaculture sector."

Scottish Liberal Democrats: "We will help fishermen to provide healthy high protein food, food security and sustainable management of the seas, by [...] Recognising aquaculture is a source of high-quality well-paid jobs in many of Scotland’s most economically fragile communities. It must be held to high environmental standards and we will work with industry to promote the marketing of this valuable export commodity overseas." 

Reform UK: "Reform the Farm Payments System and the Less Favoured Areas to support the active farmer [...] Support abattoirs with apprenticeships to grow that workforce; Maintain import standards and block illegal meats coming in; Maintain Scotland’s premium reputation through Quality Meats Scotland and Scottish Quality Crops but ensure it is quality and welfare based, not ideological"

Scottish Conservatives: "Review the distribution and delivery of farm payments to ensure farmers get enough financial support to put food on our plates. Protect Scotland’s food security by ditching Scottish Government policies that encourage a reduction in meat and dairy products."

Scottish Labour: "Reward farmers for nature-friendly practices, incentivising nature restoration and recognising the environmental contributions already made by Scotland’s farmers and crofters through our modernisation of agriculture support payments."

Scottish Greens: "We are committed to working with farmers to ensure all animals in their care can lead the best lives possible. Industrial-scale systems that treat animals as numbers instead of sentient beings will be outlawed. All farming methods will be governed by species specific welfare regulations and sentience legislation that reflect the latest science. [...] Accelerate a transition to high-welfare nature-friendly animal farming, with new regulation supporting livestock with plant-rich diets, cage-free rearing, and calf-at-hoof dairying, as part of broader regenerative farming practices."

SNP: "We will ensure support is better targeted towards active farmers and crofters, including new approaches to advice to build on whole farm plans to develop individual farm action plans which support actions for nature and climate and sustainable food production."

Scottish Liberal Democrats: "We will give farmers and crofters a fair deal by [...] Adopting the principles that financial support promotes active farming, environmental sustainability and biodiversity, profit and employment, the vibrancy of rural and remote communities, and critical mass in the supply chain to increase the processing of food within Scotland and reduce food miles. Directing and targeting measures to reverse the decline of livestock numbers, involving farming organisations in co-design of future policy and maintaining support for production."

We hope this summary is useful to you. If you haven't already, please take this action to ask MSP candidates in your area to do more for Scotland's animals if elected.