Rishi Sunak's Tory government has been accused of an "astonishing betrayal" after scrapping a flagship animal welfare bill first unveiled by Boris Johnson.
The Conservatives' 2019 election manifesto promised to introduce new laws on animal welfare, including banning exports of livestock for slaughter and tackling puppy smuggling.
New powers for police were also proposed to give greater protection to livestock from dangerous dogs while also improving regulations in zoos.
The Kept Animals Bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle in 2021 - but has failed to progress since as ministers stalled on the legislation.
In an update today, the Environment Minister Mark Spencer, announced the Bill had been ditched.
Bizarrely, however, he insisted the key measures proposed in the legislation will still be brought forward "individually" before the next general election - expected in 2024.
And he blamed Labour attempting to "play political games" with amendments for the Government's controversial decision to bin the bill.
He said: "We will be taking forward measures in the Kept Animals Bill individually during the remainder of this Parliament.
"We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments. And this approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so, rather than letting it be mired in political game-playing."
The minister told MPs: "We remain fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments.
"This approach is now the surest and quickest way of doing so - rather than letting it be mired in political game playing."
But the ex-Tory Cabinet Minister Therese Villiers, however, said she felt "disappointment" and "frustration" at the decision to scrap the Bill.
The Labour frontbencher Alex Sobel also accused ministers of "plotting the extinction" of the Bill.
"The political decision taken by the Government today represents a profound setback for animal welfare in the UK. It confirms once again the Government is too weak to deliver their own legislation. This time it's innocent animals who will suffer the consequences".
He added: "The Tories are not committed to animal welfare. They are committed to self-preservation".
Emma Slawinski, director of policy at the RSPCA said: “We have been waiting for almost two years for the Kept Animals Bill to improve the lives of billions of animals and now it’s effectively been scrapped. While politicians dither, animals suffer.
“We are frustrated and disappointed that, despite overwhelming public support, the Government has delayed and delayed and has now broken up the bill, leading to yet more uncertainty and lost time."
The animal welfare group the Humane Society International UK added: "The Government's decision to abandon the Kept Animals Bill is an astonishing betrayal of both animals and public trust."
Earlier this month actress Dame Joanna Lumley called on the PM to keep to the pledges on boosting animal welfare.
The Absolutely Fabulous star was among celebrities to sign a letter calling on the Prime Minister to deliver on Tory promises made in 2021 - including to drive through new legislation to tackle abuse of animals and bolster protections.
“Animals are being utterly let down by the Government’s dismaying failure to deliver the plans it promised two years ago," she said.
“I urge the Prime Minister to progress vital animal protection measures, including the Kept Animals Bill and a ban on the import of cruel fur, as a matter of the utmost importance.”
