Whitehall sources tell me the RSPCA is in the spotlight after a joint operation with Ugandan authorities freed dozens of dogs from a suspected illegal breeding ring. The BBC’s investigation, aired last night, triggered a swift response. A suspect is now in custody.
The story has landed on the Home Secretary’s desk. Officials are privately furious about the failure of local enforcement. Cabinet aides say this will reignite the debate on animal welfare export controls post-Brexit.
The dogs, mostly greyhounds and lurchers, were found in squalid conditions near Kampala. The RSPCA’s rapid deployment team is being hailed backbench MPs as a model for international cooperation. Downing Street is staying quiet, but I’m told the PM has asked for a briefing.
The real question: will this lead to tougher penalties for traffickers? The mood in the lobby is that the government is on the back foot. Expect questions at PMQs.
