Donald Trump’s ‘henchmen’ met with ministers to strain UK to drop ban on sick trophy searching
TV legend Chris Tarrant, today accused Trump of sending henchmen to boss Britain around – and warned the US President to butt out
Donald Trump’s sons Eric (pictured) and Donald Jr are keen hunters(Image: Internet Unknown)
Donald Trump officials met face to face with UK government ministers in their bid to convince Keir Starmer to scrap the ban on Trophy Hunting, it can be revealed.
TV legend Chris Tarrant, today accused Trump of sending henchmen to boss Britain around – and warned the US President to butt out.
It comes after the Mirror revealed US Interior Secretary Doug Bergum had written to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, urging her to think again on the ban, claiming it will hurt local economies, conservation efforts and cultural sensitivities in the US.
The Campaign to Ban Trophy hunting has launched a petition to tell Trump to “stop trying to meddle in our affairs and start sorting out yours.”
And a letter to President Trump signed by a cross-party group of MPs read: “Britain is a proud nation of animal-lovers. That is why our ban will be the strongest of any country in the world. We sincerely hope that the US will one day follow our example.”
The Mirror understands a US Government representative met with Baroness Hayman, the minister in charge of seeing the proposed ban through Parliament, last July.
READ MORE: Joanna Lumley slams Donald Trump’s team for ‘leaning on’ UK over sick trophy hunting
“Who the bloody hell do Donald Trump and his henchmen think they are trying to boss Britain around? They’ve got no right to try and stop us from banning sick hunting trophies,” Tiswas host Tarrant said.
“We’re a nation of animal lovers – they’re a nation of gun-lovers. We’re going to ban trophy hunting whether Trump likes it or not.
“Our Government should ignore his pathetic attempts to bully us. Keir Starmer should tell Donald Trump to mind his own bloody business and instead stop American trophy hunters from killing the world’s most endangered animals just for kicks.”
Independent MP Alex Easton asked Defra minister Mary Creagh how the government had responded to the letter in a Parliamentary queston.
“The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern,” she wrote in reply. “We continue to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders including other Governments to understand different perspectives and ensure we can implement a robust ban.”
The letter was signed by 18 MPs and peers, including Jeremy Corbyn, Green MPs Sian Berry and Carla Denyer, Lib Dems Steve Darling and Liz Jarvis, the SNP ’s Graham Leadbitter and Labour ’s Ian Byrne and Neil Duncan-Jordan.
Eduardo Goncalves from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting said: “First, the Trump Administration wrote to Ministers telling them to drop the ban. Now Trump officials have met face to face with the Government to give us our ‘orders’. It’s outrageous. Keir Starmer should be giving Trump’s goons THEIR marching orders.
“Americans kill most of the animals shot by the world’s trophy hunters. The trophy hunting industry helped put Trump into power by funnelling massive donations to his election campaign. They poured £1 million into a massive disinformation campaign targeting British MPs.
“We want people to sign our petition and send Donald Trump and his trophy hunting pals a message he can’t ignore – trophy hunting is evil and Britain won’t be dictated to by America.”
