Michael Gove says ‘we always defend the rights of dogs’ after being asked about pet passports post-Brexit | indy100 | indy100

During a global pandemic and unprecedented international protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, one Tory MP decided to ask whether or not his dogs can travel to France after Brexit.

Bob Stewart – who voted to leave the European Union during the 2016 referendum and previously said “I believe the decision to leave the European Union was right” – stood up in the House of Commons on Tuesday to ask Michael Gove:

Our two French-speaking dogs cross the Channel several times a year... on a pet passport.
And on their behalf, and on behalf of all other dog owners that take their labradors... on behalf of all pet owners who take their dogs abroad on a pet passport, can I ask... if there will be similar arrangements after December 31?

Without skipping a beat, Gove got up from his seat and responded:

Yes, I completely sympathise with my Honourable friend and many, many other responsible pet owners.
In my previous role as Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, we made sure that we worked on arrangements in order to ensure that travellers could take their pets abroad when they are visiting the European Union and vice versa.

Speaking in French, Gove added:

We always defend the rights of dogs.

People on social media started calling Gove out for not extending the same sentiment to certain sections of the (human) community:

@AndyGrays0n @on_a_perch Gove: "We always defend the rights of dogs." Oh that's good, just not children, or women,… https://t.co/uV0Ja5JvWo
— Jo🎄😷💙 🇵🇸 #GetTheToriesOut #BlackLivesMatter (@Jo🎄😷💙 🇵🇸 #GetTheToriesOut #BlackLivesMatter) 1592347982

@TheNewEuropean Gove added: “We always defend the rights of dogs.” Sod the rights of the people though.
— Elaine Waumsley 🕷️ #66million 3.5%💙 (@Elaine Waumsley 🕷️ #66million 3.5%💙) 1592323918

@g_gosden Gove speaking in French: “We always defend the rights of dogs.” What about the right of British citizens… https://t.co/5olqrhnhS5
— fotis saltaferis HIV+ U=U 🏳️‍🌈🌍 EUropean (@fotis saltaferis HIV+ U=U 🏳️‍🌈🌍 EUropean) 1592330325

Apparently Gove said " we always defend the rights of dogs". Shame they don't defend the rights of UK citizens...… https://t.co/BIkTPKWAxa
— #BrexitIsTreason🕷️#IamEuropean #WeWillRejoin (@#BrexitIsTreason🕷️#IamEuropean #WeWillRejoin) 1592375658

@nicktolhurst This guy keeps giving. Yesterday he couldn't understand R, today his biggest worry - when over 200 pe… https://t.co/pNzkdSI1mg
— AMIT (@AMIT) 1592372285

'Brexiteer MP says his "french-speaking" dogs should be able to keep free movement rights.' @michaelgove added "we… https://t.co/U5qhUgWAZ9
— Lewis 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺 (@Lewis 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺) 1592348927

This is painful. @michaelgove says “we will always defend the rights of dogs”. So dogs will get more rights than… https://t.co/sW9AsttFIA
— Caroline Voaden (@Caroline Voaden) 1592382274

Looks like it’s been a ruff day for the Tories...