A Veterinary Surgeon's Plea for Urgent Action to Protect the UK from Animal Disease Outbreaks

My entry into politics stemmed from my experiences as a veterinary surgeon during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis. Supervising the animal culls during that time highlighted the devastating impact of animal disease outbreaks. These outbreaks are not relics of the past but a present and pressing concern.

Recent reports from the National Audit Office (NAO) have underscored the vulnerability of the UK's defenses against animal diseases. The reports indicate that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) may struggle to manage severe or concurrent disease outbreaks. The presence of diseases like Bluetongue Virus and Avian Influenza in the UK, alongside Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever in Europe, creates a high-risk scenario. This situation threatens animal and human health, the economy, and the agri-food industry if the government fails to take decisive action. The government's approach to illegal meat imports further exacerbates these risks.

The NAO has repeatedly emphasized the need for a complete redevelopment of the APHA's Weybridge Headquarters to improve biosecurity. The situation has become increasingly precarious. A June 2025 NAO report revealed that the risk of failure at the Weybridge site is at its highest level, potentially leading to a catastrophic event if more severe threats emerge. The government is well aware of the critical need for the APHA redevelopment, a point I have repeatedly emphasized in Parliament. While the recent announcement of an additional £1 billion for the redevelopment is welcome, it should not have taken so long. The Conservatives initiated this crucial work with £1.2 billion in funding in 2020. The current government must ensure the project's completion. However, the additional funding still leaves a shortfall of £200 million compared to the NAO's estimated total cost for full redevelopment. A biosecurity disaster looms unless the government accelerates progress immediately. The well-being of our farmers, animal and human health, and the nation depend on it.