ANIMAL rights campaigners have accused Bridgwater's MP of being out of touch with the public by claiming livestock and wildlife should not be given the same legal protection as pets. 

Welfare groups have responded to the comments MP Ian Liddell-Grainger's made in a comment piece he wrote for the Bridgwater Mercury's website.

Mr Liddell-Grainger hit out at Michael Gove, saying his new animal welfare legislation will lead to a "tidal wave of legal action" as animal rights activists "have a field day."

But animal rights campaigners have hit out, with Eduardo Gonçalves, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, saying he was 'saddened' to read Mr Liddell-Grainger's divisive comments.

Mr Goncalves said: "He is clearly out of step with the British public, who see animals as sentient beings, deserving of the highest standards of protection.

"We were therefore pleased that Mr Gove listened not only to animal welfare groups, but also to the British public, in launching the Government’s Animal Sentience Bill.

“This is not about town vs countryside. Support for the ban on hunting is as high in the countryside as it is in the city. This is about ensuring that animals receive the best possible protection – surely that’s a no-brainer?"

In his column, Mr Liddell-Grainger said he welcomed Mr Gove's proposals to increase the maximum punishment for animal cruelty from six months to five years, saying this would act as a deterrent.

"But where Michael and I – and indeed the majority of MPs - start to diverge is over other provisions of his proposed new animal welfare legislation, specifically the section requiring ministers to ‘have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings and weigh it against the public interest’. Essentially it would extend the protection currently offered to pets to wildlife and livestock," Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

He said this would be opening the door to 'tidal wave' of legal action as Government measures would be dragged through the courts for judicial review.

"The animal rights extremists would have a field day, whipping up cash from their misguided and ill-informed supporters for time-wasting, spurious challenges which would run up eye-wateringly huge legal bills for the country to pay," Mr Liddell-Grainger said.

"The only conclusion I can draw from this is that Michael has been nobbled pretty effectively by once or other of the fringe welfare groups – and I may be mistaken, but I think I detect a whiff of badger about the whole thing," he added.

Pauline Kidner, of Secret World Wildlife Rescue, near Highbridge, responded to Mr Liddell-Grainger's comments, saying: "It is a pity he does not base his opinions on science. The statements he has made can be misleading for many farmers. Every small step that shows that we value all wildlife has to be in the right direction."