RSPCA have voiced their disappointment at the result.

MPs have voted against an attempt by Labour to push the Government to revive the Kept Animal Bill.

The animal welfare bill, that would have countered animal rights abuses such as puppy smuggling and the live export of farm animals, was dropped by the environment minister Mark Spencer in May in favour of individual legislation for different elements of the bill.

The Opposition Day Motion comes after various charities expressed their disappointment at the environment minister’s decision, accusing the Government of inaction and abandoning manifesto promises.

However Labour’s motion to force the bill back into Government was unsuccessful, with MPs voting against it by 256 votes to 183.

RSPCA head of public affairs David Bowles said: “We are disappointed that MPs have voted against reviving the Kept Animals Bill.

“It’s terrible news for animals and we are calling on the UK Government to rethink and bring back all the proposals contained within the binned bill back by other means. We cannot go on allowing cruel practices such as the live exports of animals for slaughter and the puppy import trade.”

Since dropping the bill the Government has begun to propose individual legislation against the keeping of primates as pets, an issue that would have been covered by the Kept Animals Bill had it been passed.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "The UK is a world leader on animal welfare and we are fully committed to maintaining and enhancing our strong track record to date.

"We are committed to delivering the Kept Animals Bill measures individually during the remainder of this Parliament and look forward to progressing these. We will be setting out next steps in due course."

Mr Bowles said: “We welcome the Government’s standalone proposals to ban primates as pets - which is a good start to reviving the proposals lost by dropping the Kept Animals Bill. But the bill contained many other proposals to tackle many other cruel practices which must be re-introduced as soon as possible.

“Without such action, the UK Government's policy agenda for animal welfare is merely smoke and mirrors.”