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Gove insists animals still protected outside EU

MICHAEL GOVE has become embroiled in a row over whether animals should still be treated as “sentient beings” after Britain leaves the EU.

The Environment Secretary insisted yesterday that there will not be a “gap” in animal welfare protections following Brexit, promising “stronger protection written into law.”

His assertion — widely seen as a U-turn — came after Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas sought to make an amendment to Brexit legislation, which would have brought EU animal protections into domestic law.

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