The district’s MPs have defended their decision to vote against an amendment which acknowledges animals can feel pain and emotion.

The amendment would have transferred EU law, which acknowledges animals have sentience, into UK legislation as part of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

But Tory MPs James Cleverly and Priti Patel voted against the amendment and insisted it was faulty, claiming it had failed to prevent cruel practices across the EU.

The RSPCA attacked the Government’s stance, saying the Animal Welfare Act only covers domestic animals.

Mr Cleverly said: “British law already recognises that animals can feel pain and emotion.

“I don’t always agree with the RSPCA or their position on this.

“They, as all charities do, get involved in political discussions as they have a right to. But their word is not gospel.

“We recognise that animals feel pain and our animal welfare legislation reflects that.

“We talk about Article 13 as if it’s a higher standard, but we still have bull fighting and geese being force fed for foie gras.”

But when asked about the Prime Minister’s support of fox hunting, Mr Cleverly added: “That’s why it’s getting traction.

“There are lots of people who believe the Conservatives find ways of being cruel, that’s nonsense but we have to work hard to contradict that.”

In a written statement from the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, he said the UK was improving welfare standards without EU input.

But this has been criticised by Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green party, who said the UK has no other law recognising animal sentience.

Ms Patel said: “There is a great deal of misinformation and misunderstanding about the debate which took place.

“The EU instrument which was debated does not have direct effect in law and has not delivered the progress that we would like to see on raising animal welfare standards.

“In fact, our membership of the EU restricts our ability to raise standards.

“We are making CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses, proposing a ban on the ivory trade, and our ban on microbeads that harm marine animals is the strongest in Europe.”

The amendment was defeated by 313 votes to 295 on November 15.