The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation urges MPs to attend and support the Second Reading of the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill led by John Spellar MP on Friday 22nd March. This marks a final opportunity for the Government’s Manifesto commitment to end trophy hunting imports to be delivered. However, we are aware this will be a difficult stage to pass due to a minority of opposition. It is therefore critical that as many MPs as possible attend and vocalise their support.
The case for this Bill is very simple…
It delivers a democratic Manifesto commitment which the vast majority of the UK public fully support. In 2019 the Conservative Party committed to ban trophy hunting imports in its General Election Manifesto. It is not democratic to allow a minority of opposition to overrule the will of the House of Commons and the will of the British public.
It is supported by African organisations and voices on the ground. African community members with no vested interest in seeing the trade continue are overwhelmingly in favour of the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill.
Many of the most trophy hunted-species are in danger of extinction. Lions, elephants, leopards and rhinoceros are the most hunted animals for trophies, and they are all in danger of going extinct.
Allowing trophy hunting imports signals Great Britain condones killing iconic and often endangered species for pleasure. This Bill will not affect access to trophy hunting, it merely sends a message that we do not condone bringing such trophies into our country.
