Henry Smith MP is to lead a debate on his Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill in the House of Commons today (Friday, 25th November).
Following the Crawley MP introducing this legislation to Parliament in June, later today the Bill is expected to have its second reading where Henry will lead the charge to protect global wildlife and conservation.
Henry Smith MP’s Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill would ban British hunters from bringing ‘trophies’ of endangered and vulnerable animals into Britain, and the legislation is supported by the Government.
Henry said;
“It’s a clear signal of how barbaric our country finds trophy hunting that this Bill attracts support from right across the political spectrum. From Government to opposition benches, MPs throughout the House of Commons are opposed to this vile trade.
“We need to support global conservation and work to put an end to activities which put this at risk. That’s why the Bill is so important and there’s no time to lose in getting it onto the statute book.
“At the last General Election I proudly stood on a manifesto which committed to ‘ban imports from trophy hunting of endangered animals.’”
The Crawley MP has been working with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting to make this ban a reality.
The Bill will deliver a 2019 Government manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals.
This commitment was also included in the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare in May 2021, following the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs publishing a call for evidence and a consultation in November 2019 on the trade in hunting trophies from endangered species.
Since the 1980s, an estimated 25,000 animals which have been slaughtered have been brought into the UK; many of these are vulnerable or even endangered.
Animals which have suffered as a result of this barbaric ‘sport’ include cheetahs, hippopotamuses, lions and polar bears, which are already under threat from the concerning impact of climate change.
The number of lions has fallen dramatically from over 200,000 half a century ago, to less than 20,000 today.
Thérèse Coffey, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, said;
“The public has voiced their concern at the thought of hunters bringing back trophies. That is why the Government made a manifesto commitment to ban this and has supported Henry Smith’s Bill. The ban will be one of the toughest in the world, cracking down on imports of horns, furs, tusks and other features of animals.”
Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, said;
“Henry Smith MP’s Bill has the support of voters, experts, African leaders and wildlife charities. It has the backing of the Government and opposition parties. I strongly urge MPs to come to the chamber and help make history.
“Trophy hunting isn’t just an American problem. British trophy hunters are among the world’s leading killers of elephants and lions. They have been shooting some of the most threatened species on the planet including polar bears, cheetahs and black rhinos. British companies are today selling trophy hunting ‘holidays’.
“This has to stop. Trophy hunting is cruel and contrary to British civilised values. It is making the current conservation crisis worse. Britain will be leading the way internationally in making this ban law. Henry Smith MP's Bill is to be strongly applauded.”
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