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The Political Position

Where the UK political parties stand on halal and kosher

Updated May 2026. A party-by-party summary of where the UK's political parties stand on halal and kosher slaughter — from those keeping the religious exemption to those calling for full abolition. Cross-party consensus exists only on labelling, not on a ban.

Where the parties stand

The mood of the public

Overwhelming support for banning non-stun halal and kosher slaughter.

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Labour

  • Supports keeping the religious exemption for halal and kosher slaughter.
  • Broadly supports mandatory labelling so consumers can make informed choices.

Conservative

  • A compulsory labelling bill was introduced in February 2026 — does not seek a ban.
  • Some individual MPs push for welfare improvements; no official party position on an outright ban.

Liberal Democrats

  • Supportive of clearer labelling and consumer transparency.
  • No push for a ban; focus on balancing religious freedom with welfare.

Reform UK

  • No formal policy banning halal or kosher; leadership has publicly refused to back a ban.

Green Party

  • The Green Party's official Animal Rights policy (a numbered section of their published policy document) states that slaughter should cause least suffering and be monitored 'without prejudice towards minority religious and cultural groups' — language deliberately adopted to avoid calling for a ban.
  • Previously had a pledge to ban non-stun slaughter, which was dropped after internal opposition on equality grounds.
  • No support for a ban in the current policy; supports mandatory labelling.

Restore Britain

  • Formal policy: full abolition of all halal and kosher slaughter.

English Democrats

  • Strongly oppose the exemption in UK law that permits Kosher (Shechita) and certain non-stun Halal slaughter.
  • Advocate for a legal requirement that all animals must be pre-stunned to minimise suffering before death.

Advance UK

  • No published policy on halal or kosher slaughter found.

UKIP

  • Called for a ban on non-stun halal and kosher slaughter in early 2015 but backtracked in their 2015 manifesto, instead supporting continuation with better training and CCTV in abattoirs.
  • No confirmed current ban policy.

Britain First

  • No published manifesto policy on halal or kosher found.

SNP

  • No specific manifesto position on halal or kosher slaughter.
Close view of halal slaughter being carried out on a sheep

Close view of halal slaughter being carried out on a sheep

Source: Still from “HALAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE EXPOSED IN ENGLAND (EXTREMELY GRAPHIC)”, Joey Carbstrong / YouTube. Watch on YouTube

The overall position

Labelling, not a ban

  • The government has confirmed it will not remove the religious exemption for halal or kosher slaughter.
  • Cross-party consensus exists only on labelling — not on banning.

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Bringing a judicial review on religious slaughter is expensive. Your donation funds the legal work needed to challenge the abuse of the Slaughter of Animals Act 1933 exemption.

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