Let's talk about chickens. Earlier this year, we debated and amended proposals designed to improve the welfare of chickens bred for meat in the EU. Animal welfare issues are very important in the minds of my constituents, and I know from my postbag that these EU-wide reforms are popular in Yorkshire.

Now let's talk about UKIP, who rejected these new measures and voted against amendments tabled to strengthen them. Specifically, UKIP voted against amendments designed to:

• control imports of chickens from third countries where farms don't stick to the same rules; and


• reduce the 'stocking density', i.e. how many chickens can be placed in a single area.

Now, I don't know whether they're eager for chickens to suffer or whether they just vote blindly without reading the text. Either way, it's hardly satisfactory for British MEPs to vote against measures which are designed to improve the health and welfare of farm animals.

Just to drive the point home, here's the justification put forward for reducing stocking density:

"From a stocking density of 20kg/m2 onwards, animal welfare problems increase. Behaviour and leg disorder studies clearly show that high stocking density above 25 kg per square metre leads to serious welfare problems, as the restriction of movement causes foot pad dematitis, leg problems, breast blisters, restriction of normal behaviour, and ultimately high mortality rates."

Surely this is something that UK MEPs should be at the forefront of tackling?!