Tories focus on animal welfare over climate crisis in green agenda

Campaigners criticise party for absence of announcements on air pollution and plastics crisis

Live exports of farm animals will be ended, people will be stopped from keeping primates as pets and cats will be microchipped under proposals to be set out at the Conservative party conference by the environment secretary, Theresa Villiers.

Animal welfare will form the centrepiece of her appeal to party members, intended to show off the Tories' green credentials at a time when environmental concern is high on the list of voters' concerns, with the backing of 10 Downing Street.